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The Best Stroller Travel Systems That Parents Say Make Life Easier

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American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), How to Keep Your Sleeping Baby Safe: AAP Policy Explained , July 2022. American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), How to Choose a Safe Baby Stroller , August 2022. American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Shopping for Car Seats: Tips for Parents , February 2020. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Keep Child Passengers Safe on the Road , October 2022. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Car Seats and Booster Seats , 2024. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Carriages and Strollers Business Guidance & Small Entity Compliance Guide , 2024. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Booster Seats Business Guidance and Small Entity Compliance Guide , 2024.

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Best Travel Systems for Parents Who Want a Car Seat + Stroller Combo

Travel systems—car seat + stroller combos—make getting out with your baby a lot easier., by jen labracio, cpst | medically reviewed by holly peretz ot.

When you’re ready to get out the door with your baby, a car seat and a stroller are key. Thanks to the genius who designed the first travel system―an infant car seat that attaches to a stroller―you can make one purchase and get both essentials. 

We’ve weighed feedback from thousands of Babylist families, spoken to several experts and tested dozens of car seat stroller systems over the years, and we think the Chicco Corso LE Modular Travel System is the best travel system for most families. It combines our top infant car seat pick, the KeyFit 35 , with the Corso LE stroller, creating a travel system that’s high-quality, easy to use and competitively priced.

And since we know parents shopping for a travel system often appreciate a good value, we’ve chosen three additional favorites in an affordable, mid-range and luxury price point so you can find the best combo for your budget and your lifestyle.

Why Trust Babylist?

Babylist is the expert in baby; we know baby gear inside and out. We talk with parents face-to-face in our showroom and on our user panels and hear from thousands of people annually via our Best Baby Products survey. We know what items millions of expecting parents are adding to their baby registries. 

I have over half a decade of experience with baby gear of all types, especially car seats and strollers. I’ve tested countless travel system combos both in my role as Babylist’s gear editor and as a mom of two young boys, ages ten and two. I also spoke with many industry and safety experts while writing this guide, including Joe Colella, the Director of Child Passenger Safety at the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association and 2020 Child Passenger Safety Hall of Fame Inductee, pediatrician Kelly Fradin , MD, FAAP and Courtney English , a pediatric occupational therapist. I also talked to a car seat safety expert, Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) Samantha Taylor of Mama Knows Car Seats . 

I interviewed Babylist Showroom Registry Consultants Tatyanna Hunter Jones and Pateel Markaradi, part of a trained team of experts who work on the Babylist Beverly Hills floor, answering questions daily about baby gear and helping parents-to-be build their baby registries. I also incorporated travel system feedback from thousands of parents through Babylist’s annual Best Baby Products survey of over 6,000 Babylist users and talked to parents at Babylist for their input.

The Best Travel Systems

Best Overall: Chicco Corso LE Modular Travel System

Best Affordable: Graco Modes Nest Travel System

Best Mid-Range: Nuna x Babylist PIPA urbn & TAVO Travel System

Best Luxury: UPPAbaby Aria Infant Car Seat & Vista V2 Stroller Travel System

How We Judged

Ease of use. Most parents choose a travel system for convenience. All of the car seat stroller systems on our list work seamlessly both together and on their own. 

Best of both worlds. Many travel systems on the market offer a great stroller but a not-so-great car seat—and vice versa. We chose car seat stroller systems with the best of the best in both categories.

Features. We focused on features like safety, ease of install, canopies, a multi-position seat, storage and recline options when choosing our best travel system picks. 

Value. Travel systems range from a few hundred dollars to well over a thousand. We factored in cost while making our top choices to provide you with a solid option at any budget. 

Best Overall Travel System

Chicco Corso LE Modular Travel System - Veranda

• Car seat is a parent + safety expert favorite
• Slim car seat, works 3-across in most cars
• Stroller has great maneuverability + many high-end features (for a mid-range price)
• Rear suspension and rubber tires = smooth ride
• Car seat is heavier than some other options
• Stroller handlebar isn’t adjustable
• No snack tray or cup holder included

Most parents choose a travel system for two reasons: convenience and value. Chicco’s Corso Travel System checks both of those boxes—and more.

This travel system includes the KeyFit 35 infant seat, a popular parent and expert favorite and our top pick for best infant car seat . It’s “remarkably easy to install,” according to CPST Taylor, and fits babies of all sizes well. It also has high rear-facing height and weight limits, meaning you’ll be able to rear-face your little one longer than in many other car seats. (This is called “extended rear-facing,” and it’s a term you’ll likely come across as you research car seats.)

“According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), it’s safest for infants and toddlers to ride rear-facing in a car seat for as long as possible,” explains Colella. “This recommendation is based on data showing that rear-facing seats offer better protection in crashes for children from birth through 23 months of age.”

The included stroller is just as praiseworthy. Every time I push it, I forget I’m not maneuvering a stroller that’s double the cost. That’s because of the many premium features like large, foam-filled tires and rear-wheel suspension for a smooth ride, a multi-position reclining seat, an adjustable canopy and footrest and leatherette trim. The seat is modular so you can face your baby toward you or out into the world. And the stroller seat is fully removable, turning it from a full-featured toddler stroller into a lightweight, skeleton frame that’s much easier to manage when you’re using it with just the infant car seat.

There aren’t many downsides to this travel system, especially considering the price. The few I’d note include that the car seat is on the heavier side (just over 10 pounds), which can make a difference when you’re getting it in and out of a car, and is a longer seat front-to-back, so fit could be an issue in more compact cars and/or if your front seat driver or passenger are tall. Speaking of tall folks (I’m 5’10”), the stroller doesn’t have an adjustable handlebar. And the storage basket has a 10-pound weight limit, which is lighter than most and isn’t ideal if you use your stroller for heavier items like groceries.

Real Parent Reviews

“This travel system has been so great, and is holding up well 8 months in. The car seat is really easy to adjust as baby has grown, and is so easy to install. And I love that the 35-pound weight limit means we’ll be able to have her rear-facing for longer. The stroller is the thing that I use the most, and it is one of the best pieces of baby gear we have. It’s super maneuverable and very easy to push one-handed. We walk every day in our city neighborhood with old broken sidewalks and the stroller handles all that terrain beautifully. The stroller can also be used comfortably by people of different heights. I’m 5’5” and my husband is 6’2” and we can both comfortably push the stroller. My husband doesn’t kick the stroller when he’s walking (something that I’ve read can be an issue for tall people with other strollers).” — Kate H

“As a CPST I trust Chicco and all of their products. The ease of the KeyFit35 install is to die for. The car seat also feels comfortable and sturdy. I also love this stroller! The one-hand fold and the sleek design. It looks beautiful with the flower-like wheels and leather handle. It’s also a beautiful color. I would recommend to anyone.” — Patience Mabin

“I get so many compliments on my Corso LE travel system. I love it so much… It is a smooth, stylish ride. My only conundrums are the following: I’m 62 inches tall (5ft 1.75in) and the handlebar is to my chest. I don’t mind it too much, but it would be nice if the handlebars were adjustable. I wish the storage basket supported a bit more weight. I haven’t had any issues yet, but the limit of 10 lbs is always on my mind while food shopping alone…Overall, definitely recommend this stroller. Very easy to fold and store. I love the handle it has, and it’s a great price.” — Ysa

Additional Specs

Best Affordable Travel System

Graco Modes Nest Travel System - Sullivan

• Good value considering safety + features
• Infant car seat is easy to install; also has anti-rebound bar
• Stroller includes bassinet mode
• Child snack tray and cup holder included
• Plastic wheels, no suspension system (rides can be bumpy)
• Self-standing fold only works when toddler seat is forward-facing
• Folding and unfolding take some getting used to

Affordability can be a roadblock with some travel systems. Even mid-priced systems average about $500, and many creep well over that mark. The Graco Modes Nest is our favorite for an affordable pick, coming in at under $400.

Like the Chicco system above, the car seat included with this travel system is a parent favorite from the brand’s SnugFit line, a line of seats known for their ease of install. “The SnugLock arm on the base makes installation in any vehicle an absolute breeze,” says Taylor. The seat weighs under 10 pounds and features an anti-rebound bar (a bar that reduces the movement of the car seat in the event of a crash, adding a layer of safety) and five recline positions for proper installation and a comfortable fit. It also has a high rear-facing weight and height limit.

The standout feature of the Modes Nest stroller is optionality. It’s three strollers in one, working as an infant car seat carrier (you can click the car seat directly onto the stroller frame), a bassinet (called a pram in this case) and a toddler stroller with the ability to flip the seat parent- or forward-facing. The bassinet is a noteworthy addition here. While babies sometimes fall asleep in an infant car seat, AAP safe sleep recommendations say you need to transfer them to a firm, flat sleep space as soon as possible. The bassinet mode in this stroller allows you to stroll safely while your baby snoozes and not worry about moving them from a car seat. The toddler seat also has three different height positions, a nice perk when your baby is parent-facing so you can keep them close. Especially considering the price, these are all impressive (and convenient) features.

The biggest downside of this travel system lies in the stroller. Like many lower-priced options, there isn’t much suspension and the stroller’s wheels are plastic, making for a bumpy ride over anything other than smooth pavement. (More expensive strollers will have foam or air-filled tires.) This wouldn’t be my pick if I lived in a more rural area with dirt or gravel paths or if I was in a big city with uneven sidewalks. Many parents also note that this travel system is a pain to put together. But for the right family, the Modes is a solid choice and a great value.

“The car seat was easy to install and feels very tight and secure with the added Snuglock feature. It easily adjusts its harness height with just the squeeze of a button and the carry bar can be adjusted with one hand as well. The shade cover comes down nice and far and has a very elegant look to it as well….The stroller is very beautiful and customizable. My favorite feature is the HUGE storage basket! That is a must for me…The sun shade on the toddler seat comes down nice and low and the seat reclines in multiple positions. The braking system was easy to push and lift. The stroller frame itself is lightweight and easy to stick in the trunk for an outing. It works very well with the car seat…The main problem I had with the stroller was that it cannot handle going over any type of lip or ledge in the sidewalk. If it hits a bump it jarringly stops and can not glide over it. It then has to be lifted over said bump which is not easy to do since the storage basket collapses and doesn’t give much foot levering support.” — Macai

“I’m tall and this stroller does not have me hunching over. I feel very comfortable pushing it around and the height adjustment on the seat is wonderful. Another bonus is that it is very sturdy and has decent-sized storage underneath. On the downside, sometimes it’s not a smooth action when folding it closed if the wheels are pointing a certain way.” — Jaymills

Best Mid-Range Travel System

Nuna Nuna x Babylist PIPA urbn & TAVO Travel System - Refined

• Baseless infant car seat with a quick, easy install
• Car seat weighs just 7 lbs
• 4-wheel stroller suspension = smooth ride
• Thoughtful stroller features: adjustable handlebar, breathable seat, magnetic buckles
• Car seat has lower height and weight limits compared to many infant seats
• Stroller seat isn’t reversible to be parent-facing
• Child snack tray sold separately

Coming in at just under $700, this travel system is on the pricier side of mid-range but I think worth the extra splurge. It combines a popular car seat and stroller into one beautiful, functional system. “Just stop stressing and get this one,” one Babylist parent commented. (And if you’re stacking it up against other Nuna travel systems, I agree. The urbn also comes paired with the MIXX stroller, but it’s almost double the cost and I don’t think the MIXX’s features warrant that price tag. You can also pair the urbn with the TRVL , the brand’s lightweight stroller, but that combo is better suited for travel—and you can read why later in this guide.)

The infant car seat that’s included in this duo, the urbn, captivates me every time I install it. (You can see the installation for yourself in Nuna’s video .) That’s because it’s completely baseless and doesn’t even require a seat belt; simply push a button on either side of the seat to reveal the built-in lower anchor connectors and then attach them to the anchors in your vehicle’s back seat. That’s it! It’s foolproof and takes just a few seconds. And more so, it’s safe, as a properly installed car seat is a safe car seat. It’s also one of the lightest infant seats on the market, weighing in at seven pounds.

These features mean the urbn is a great seat for any family, but especially if you plan to use your seat on the go in rideshares or taxis. “I love being able to move the car seat in and out of any car without worrying about a base,” one Babylist parent told us.

High points of the TAVO are things parents have come to love about Nuna strollers, including a huge storage basket, four-wheel suspension for a smooth, easy push, an adjustable handlebar and a fairly compact fold considering the stroller’s size. I’m always impressed with Nuna’s attention to the little details that make a big difference. I love the breathability of the all-season seat and the magnetic buckles that make the task of getting your baby in and out of the stroller a bit less arduous.

The urbn does have a lower height and weight limit than many infant car seats, which is something to keep in mind when you’re thinking about your infant seat’s longevity. And the stroller doesn’t have a modular seat, so you won’t be able to parent-face your child unless you’re using the infant car seat attachment.

“After extensive research, this is the set we decided on. It had the most benefits for the price point. The baseless quick install has been a breeze. The stroller is really nice. It feels luxury and well-made and steers like a dream. The only con is that this is not a small, lightweight stroller. It will take up trunk space and it isn’t super light. It is great all around, however. The biggest benefit is that it has a built-in infant lounge position, which means you can use it from birth without the car seat.” — Dana N.

“I naively thought we’d never need a stroller (I could just carry the baby everywhere right?), but now that we have the TAVO I wish we had gotten it so much sooner. It’s a joy to use and makes everything about navigating the world with baby easier. They thought of it all when designing this model. It’s incredibly simple to use and everything about it is so smooth. Took a few tries to get the hang of the baseless car seat install, but now it’s a breeze to install and I love that there’s not a base always taking up a seat in the car.” — Ryan Q.

Best Luxury Travel System

UPPAbaby Aria Infant Car Seat & Vista V2 Stroller Travel System - Jake

• Stroller can fit up to 3 kids (with attachments; sold separately)
• Great suspension and huge storage basket
• Lightest car seat on the market at 6 lbs
• Car seat has anti-rebound panel and load leg
• Stroller has bulky fold
• Car seat is long front-to-back, may be a tight fit in smaller cars

If you have the budget and this stroller and car seat fit your lifestyle, this is my favorite travel system to recommend to parents-to-be who are up for a splurge. It’s similar to the car seat stroller combo I used (and loved) for years with my first son, although at that time the system came with the brand’s first infant car seat, the Mesa—and now that it includes the Aria instead, I love it even more. (But more on that later.)

UPPAbaby’s Vista V2 stroller consistently makes it into our best strollers guide. Almost 30% of the 6,000+ Babylist users who completed our Best Baby Products survey voted it as their favorite stroller—the highest percentage for any stroller on the list—saying it’s “worth every penny” and calling out the stroller’s quality as “amazing.”

The Vista is a pleasure to push. It steers easily with one hand, turns on a dime and takes on rougher surfaces like cracked sidewalks and gravel effortlessly. It also grows along with your family, accommodating two infant car seats, two bassinets and countless other combinations. Other features parents love include the modular seat (so baby can face you or the world), huge storage basket (with a 30-pound weight limit to hold all the things) and adjustable handlebar.

The Aria is just as great. It weighs just six pounds minus the canopy and inserts, the lightest infant car seat on the market and four pounds lighter than the brand’s other infant seat, the Mesa V2 . Even I was surprised at how light it was when I picked it up—and I’ve tested a lot of car seats. Safety features include an anti-rebound panel and a load leg as well as an easy-to-install LATCH system complete with visual indicators that turn red if something’s not right with installation.

Minus the price—this travel system’s obvious downside—know that the Vista V2 is a large stroller that’s not for everyone. (Need something to travel with or a stroller that you can pop in and out of your trunk a few times a day? The Vista probably isn’t for you.) The Aria takes up a bit more room front-to-back than some other seats, a concern if you drive a compact car or need more room in the front seat.

For a slightly more affordable option, check out the UPPAbaby Cruz V2 & Aria car seat stroller combo. The Cruz is more compact than the Vista and doesn’t convert to hold two+ kids, but you’ll save almost $400.

“We’ve been a big fans of UPPABaby strollers so we were excited about this pairing when looking for a travel system for our second baby. I could not be happier with the Aria. It’s SO light—I still can’t believe how much easier it is to carry than the last infant car seat I used. I also wanted a seat that prioritized safety and the Aria more than delivers. It’s also easy to install both with or without the base.” — JL

“So many options for car seats but we choose the V2 and it made sense to have the car seat as well. This was helpful when traveling to the doctors’ appointments on the 1st months. It’s easy to lift and place on frame with no hassle.” — Ellena

“Holy grail of strollers…Bassinet has been amazing for walks & for our baby to sleep during hockey games. The car seat is easy to maneuver from car to stroller which makes shopping & travel super easy! We can’t wait to use the toddler seat & love that this will transition with us when we decide to have a 2nd baby! The stroller is smooth and I can control with one hand when other hand is occupied…Worth every penny.” — Nikki W.

Other Travel Systems We Love

If you’re looking for something more specific in your travel system, like an extra lightweight option or something for jogging, we’ve got you covered. Here are a few more of our favorites. 

Best Lightweight Travel System

Nuna PIPA urbn & TRVL LX Travel System - Cedar

• Compact, lightweight stroller with easy fold
• Baseless infant car seat, weighs just 7 lbs
• Carry bag included
• Car seat has lower height and weight limits compared to other car seats
• Handlebar isn’t adjustable like with other Nuna strollers
• No snack tray available

If you plan on traveling frequently while your baby is an infant, or simply prefer a more lightweight stroller for everyday use, this is my travel system of choice. It includes the urbn, the baseless infant car seat reviewed above, and the TRVL stroller, Nuna’s lightest and most compact stroller. Standout stroller features include a quick, one-handed fold, a compact size (it stands on its own and weighs just over 13 pounds) and a smaller but easily accessed storage basket.

“Assembly was super easy and the quality of the materials and fabric is amazing. The set is compact, lightweight and the stroller is very agile with an effortless push/pull/turn functionality. The stroller’s easy collapse and standalone feature makes life much easier. I am giving it 4 stars and not 5 for the following reasons…Car seat requires rethreading harness which is less than ideal. Handlebar on stroller is not adjustable and when the canopy is pulled back it touches the handlebar, and therefore rubs against your hands. It would be nice if you could adjust the handlebar by being able to move it up, down, or out towards your body to avoid this and also for general height consideration of the person pushing the stroller. The button to secure the car seat in the stroller is very firm and not easy to click back and forth. The storage basket is very small and will not hold a normal-size diaper bag unless you squish it in. Adjusting the straps within the stroller isn’t difficult but the remaining slack dangles and isn’t easily secured. Overall, I think the quality and functionality outweigh some of the cons but its something for Nuna to consider when designing future models.” — Kristina D.

Easiest to Fold Travel System

Baby Jogger City Mini GT2 All-Terrain Travel System - Opulent Black

• Stroller folds with one hand in seconds
• 3-wheel design = easy to maneuver
• Car seat includes anti-rebound bar
• Bulky items/large diaper bags may be difficult to fit in the storage basket
• Stroller seat isn’t modular; only faces outward
• Car seat is heavy and fabric isn’t very breathable

The Baby Jogger City Mini GT2 stroller is a parent favorite and a Babylist bestseller thanks to its agility and unparalleled one-handed fold. This travel system matches it with the brand’s City GO 2 infant car seat.

The GT2’s slim profile and ability to quickly turn corners make it perfect for crowded city streets or suburban sidewalks. You can whip it closed with one hand and carry it up stairs or onto a commuter train no problem—it’s lighter than most full-size strollers. And because of its tight fold, it fits in smaller trunks. The compatible City GO 2 car seat is just as great. You can install it with or without a base (perfect for taxis or ride shares) and it pops right into the stroller.

“We are an NYC family, but also do quite a bit of driving, so we wanted a car seat that could easily pop in and out of the car. The stroller is super easy to fold with the one-pull handle, and we easily carry it up one flight of stairs. It’s not a feather, but it’s not that hard to carry one handed with something else in the other. I wish the stroller bucket was bigger, but we knew going in it wasn’t as big as others.” — AFS1122

Best Travel System for Jogging

Chicco Activ3 Jogging Travel System - Solar

• Easy to access stroller brake and front wheel swivel lock controls
• Oversized treaded tires and good suspension
• Comes with easy-to-install car seat
• Shallow storage basket
• Front wheel needs to be removed for stroller to fold flat, otherwise the fold is bulky

While you can’t jog with your baby until they have strong head and neck control, usually around six to nine months, you can use this stroller with the infant seat attachment to walk with your little one from day one. This is the best choice for an out-of-the-box travel system from the same brand. (There are other jogging-friendly travel systems out there, but most you’ll need to DIY by mixing and matching brands.)

Babylist parents call this car seat stroller combo “amazing” and “in a league of its own.” It includes the easy-to-install KeyFit 30 car seat and the Activ30 jogging stroller. The jogger has something called a Control Console, a unique area near the handlebar that includes a hand-operated parking brake (to keep the foot area clear), a front swivel wheel lock (to keep the stroller steady when you jog with it) and a height-adjustable handlebar. It also folds more compactly than most jogging strollers.

“As a runner the stroller is easy to handle and the car seat is sturdy and stays in place the entire time while running, jogging, walking. I love how easily it folds up and fits in my car. It’s such a well-made product and I feel as though my child is safe and that as a parent makes me feel better.” — Amy C.

How We Chose Our Best Infant Car Seats

We analyzed results from Babylist’s Best Baby Products survey, which polled 6,000 Babylist users and asked them to share the baby products they love the most and why.

We utilized insight from the Babylist editorial team, including me, Gear Editor Jen LaBracio, an expert in the baby space for over six years and a mom of two who has written hundreds of baby gear guides and personally researched and tested hundreds of baby products, including many travel systems.

We interviewed several experts, including Joe Colella, Director of Child Passenger Safety at the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association and 2020 Child Passenger Safety Hall of Fame Inductee and pediatrician Kelly Fradin , MD, FAAP. We also spoke with Courtney English , a Pediatric Occupational Therapist, and Child Passenger Safety Technician Samantha Taylor of Mama Knows Car Seats . 

We talked with Babylist Showroom Registry Consultants Tatyanna Hunter Jones and Pateel Markaradi. They’re part of a trained team of experts who work on our Beverly Hills showroom floor, answering questions daily about baby gear and helping parents-to-be build their baby registries.

We researched information on car seat safety and reviews from several leading car seat experts, including Car Seats for the Littles and The Car Seat Lady , as well as information from the AAP. We also considered the NHTSA’s Ease-of-Use Ratings .

What Is a Travel System?

A travel system is a car seat and a stroller that attach. Just unclip the car seat from its base in the back seat, snap it into the stroller and you’re off—and vice versa. 

Sometimes also referred to as a car seat stroller combo, you can purchase a travel system in two forms:

As a package deal from the same brand (the type of travel systems we’re reviewing here), or

As a “make your own” set that combines a stroller and a car seat from different brands using adapters.

Travel systems from the same brand:

Guarantee that your car seat and stroller will work together—no adapters required.

Eliminate some decision fatigue.

Can be more economical than a DIY version.

Build-your-own travel systems:

Give you more choices and the ability to mix and match brands as you’d like. You’re not locked into one brand for both your car seat and stroller, which means you’ll be able to customize each item to best suit your lifestyle. But…

Not all car seats and strollers work together. And the ones that do often require separate adapters. Check Babylist’s Infant Car Seat and Stroller Compatibility guide to learn more.

Do you need a travel system?

TL;DR: you don’t need a travel system, but you do need a way to get your newborn from point A to point B—and a travel system can help.

Unless your stroller comes with a bassinet attachment or fully reclines and is approved for newborn use, it’s not suitable for your little one until they can sit up unassisted—which usually isn’t until they’re around six months of age (or 25 weeks , if you’re counting). And even if that is the case, you’ll still need to move your infant every time you want to transfer them from the car seat to the stroller (and back again).

Here’s where a travel system comes in. A travel system solves for strolling with your newborn before they’re able to sit up independently. It also means you won’t have to disturb your little one every time you need to make the switch between your car seat and your stroller.

“Parents are shopping for/prioritizing travel systems because they like the convenience of taking baby from stroller to car and vice versa,” says Hunter Jones, a registry consultant in Babylist’s Beverly Hills showroom. “Guests will come in looking for an infant car seat that will click onto the stroller,” Markaradi, another showroom consultant, echoes.

You’ll need a travel system right from birth if you plan on using your car to transport your little one. At around six to nine months old, your baby will learn to sit up independently and will likely want a better view of the world—and then you can use the stroller on its own. And because you can use the stroller from infancy through toddlerhood, it’s the only stroller you’ll need to purchase.

Want to skip the travel system altogether? You have a few other options for newborn transportation.

A stroller frame is a bare-bones frame with the sole job of wheeling around your infant car seat. They’re typically inexpensive but stop being useful once your baby outgrows the infant car seat at about a year old, and most lack some of the nice-to-have features you’ll find on a standard stroller.

You can wear your baby in a baby carrier until they’re old enough to sit up unassisted and graduate to a stroller. But this can be tough on some parents’ backs, and you’ll lose the convenience of the car-seat-to-stroller-and-back-again transfer.

Using a Travel System Safely

Travel systems are safe for newborns, but there are some guidelines to keep in mind.

The AAP’s safe sleep guide recommends against the use of car seats for sleep outside of a car. If your infant falls asleep in their car seat, they should be removed and placed in a crib or bassinet (or other safe sleep space) as soon as possible.

But what if your baby falls asleep in their car seat while you’re driving and is still asleep when you arrive at your destination? According to pediatrician Dr. Fradin, the best practice is to remove them and transfer them to a safe sleep environment.

“However, many parents, myself included, will want the child to finish their nap for a brief period. If you choose to do this to reduce risk be sure the baby is not overheating by removing hats, blankets and ventilating the car. Also, keep the straps snug and place the car seat on the floor under your direct supervision.”

“If babies are in an approved stroller with the car seat properly restrained, I think of it the same as being in a vehicle,” explains Dr. Fradin. “Keep them cool and supervised.”

And since you may be using your infant car seat more frequently than parents who don’t rely on a travel system, keeping in mind what some experts call “the two-hour rule” is recommended.

“Safety experts [say] to limit car seat use to no more than two hours in a 24-hour period,” says English, a pediatric occupational therapist. “This is because research shows that when a baby is positioned in a semi-upright position for longer durations, it can restrict airflow to baby's lungs resulting in breathing issues. Additionally, it puts baby's spine in a stressful position when semi-inclined for longer durations.”

How to Choose a Travel System

Since a travel system includes two products, an infant car seat and a stroller, you need to think through the features of each (and how you’ll use them) both separately and as a pair.

Choosing an infant car seat

An infant car seat faces the rear of a vehicle and is designed specifically for younger babies. Infant car seats can be used from day one until your baby reaches the seat’s maximum height or weight limit (usually anywhere between 30-35 pounds, depending on the specifics of your seat).

As you review infant car seat options, look for a seat that meets these criteria:

Fits your child.

Fits your vehicle.

Can be used consistently and correctly on every ride.

All car seats sold in the US must meet the same strict safety regulations and pass all testing and requirements set forth by the NHTSA. But these three things—how a car seat fits your child, how easy it is to install and how easy it is to use day in and day out—are inextricably linked to a car seat’s safety. You can buy a seat with added safety features, but if it’s tricky to install or doesn’t fit well in your car, none of the extra bells and whistles matter.  

These are the features to think through when shopping for an infant car seat.

Size and weight, including how a seat will fit in your vehicle

A seat’s height and weight minimums and maximums

LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren, a way to secure your car seat to your vehicle that uses built-in anchors and straps instead of your vehicle’s seat belt)

Safety features such as an anti-rebound bar, side impact protection and a load leg (a metal pole that extends from a seat’s base to the floor of a vehicle and can help absorb crash forces to a baby’s head and neck)

Ease of cleaning and fabric type

Canopy size

For more information on how to choose an infant car seat, including the features to prioritize and why, safety information, determining car seat fit and our expert-recommended seat picks, check out our Best Infant Car Seats guide.

Choosing a stroller

You’ll be using your stroller longer than your infant car seat. Also, the specific needs and lifestyle of a family often impact the type of stroller they need more so than what infant car seat they choose. Here’s what to think about. 

Evaluate your lifestyle. “Just because one stroller worked for a family member or your bestie doesn’t mean it will be the perfect stroller for you,” stresses Hunter Jones. Think through your lifestyle and your daily needs to help you narrow down a pick.

Think through features. Things like a modular seat, fold, wheel type and suspension, an adjustable handlebar, a storage basket, fabric type and canopy size are features that can affect how you use your stroller day-to-day.

Factor in family size. If you’re planning on having multiple children close in age, you may want to consider a convertible stroller from day one instead of registering for a single stroller and then having to purchase a double shortly after.

Consider safety. Look for a five-point harness, an easy-to-operate brake and a good fit.

Keep cost in mind. Strollers range widely in cost. More expensive models will often have all-wheel suspension, better maneuverability, modular seats, high-end fabrics or the ability to convert to a double, but there are many high-quality, more affordable stroller options, too. It’s all about finding what works for you and for your budget.

How to Choose a Stroller walks you through making a decision step-by-step. You can also consult our Best Strollers guide for a deeper dive into all things strollers and our most-loved product picks.

Once you’ve narrowed down your stroller and car seat options, you can decide if a travel system is the best option for you and which one meets your family’s particular needs.

Jen LaBracio,

Senior gear editor, cpst.

Jen LaBracio is Babylist’s Senior Gear Editor and a Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST). When she’s not geeking out over car seats, testing out a new high chair or pushing the latest stroller model around her neighborhood, she likes to run, do all things Peloton, listen to podcasts, read and spend time at the beach. In her past life, she worked for over a decade in children’s publishing. She lives outside of Chicago with her husband and their two boys, Will and Ben.

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The 15 Best Travel Strollers of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

We tested the best travel strollers on the market for maneuverability, design, durability, and portability.

In This Article

• Our Top Picks
• Others We Liked

Our Testing Process

• Tips for Buying

Frequently Asked Questions

You may also want.

• Why Trust T+L

Travel + Leisure / Phoebe Cheong

If you're traveling with a child under 4 years old or so, you need a stroller. But your everyday stroller might not be ideal for packing into trains, planes, and automobiles or for bringing in and out of a hotel. If you plan to travel even somewhat often with your little ones, you might want to invest in a travel stroller, which is typically smaller and more scaled-back with a collapsible frame. Many travel strollers fold multiple ways to reduce the length, width, and height, while others fold one way into a narrow but still-long piece. In the end, you want your travel stroller to be comfortable and safe for your child while folding up into a very compact, easy-to-carry package.

We tested more than 32 travel strollers from top brands such as Uppababy, Nuna, and Babyzen. We measured and weighed them, then spent eight and a half hours in our New York City lab putting them all through the wringer, looking at each stroller's maneuverability, design features, durability, and portability. We then sent them out into the real world to be used by families like yours to guarantee stroller longevity and functionality.

Best Overall

Joolz aer+ baby stroller.

It folds up into an extremely compact, easy-to-carry package that is great for storing at home or on flights.

The seat can only be hand-washed and air-dried.

The Joolz Aer+ looks great, rolls smoothly, and features plenty of padding for the little rider sitting in it. It wowed us right out of the box and was one of the quickest strollers to assemble with just a quick-snap connection to a secure and stable stroller. While the Aer+ is about one pound lighter than earlier models, it is still the same size and features all of the perks parents look for in a high-quality stroller. The roomy shopping basket can hold up to 11 pounds, the canopy is adjustable, and the seat reclines to multiple settings to help keep your little one comfortable as they grow.

Throughout our tests, we tossed the stroller off of a counter to see how it held up and it remained in impeccable condition with little to no scratching and no major breaks or rips. Even when fully loaded up, the wheels moved smoothly and limited turbulence as they are designed to absorb shock from pebbles, rocks, and other rough terrain. We could easily collapse the stroller down using only one hand — which is perfect for use when flying — and it can once again be assembled with just the click of a button. At just over 13 pounds, it's also easy to carry, so you can transport this stroller just about anywhere life takes you.

The Details: 13.2 pounds | 41.5 x 32.7 x 17.7 inches assembled | 8.5 x 21 x 17.7 x inches folded | 50-pound weight limit

Travel + Leisure / Conor Ralph

Travel + Leisure / Phoebe Cheong

Best Overall, Runner-up

Nuna trvl lightweight stroller.

Not only does it roll well, but the one-handed folding process was the smoothest of all the strollers we tested.

It's not especially small when folded and is a little unwieldy to carry.

During testing, when we pressed the buttons to collapse and fold the Nuna Trvl, it felt like some spring-loaded mechanism started the process for us and made it easier. That's the kind of helpful detail any parent or caretaker appreciates. And that folding process was quick, easy, and doable with one hand. The Trvl isn't quite as light as some of the other strollers, however, and it has no strap for carrying over the shoulder (although the bumper bar turns into a handle for carrying when the stroller is collapsed). It's also not clear whether the Nuna Trvl will fit in all airplane overhead compartments; It was a tight squeeze when we placed it in ours, with the wheels sticking out a bit.

The Trvl has a lot of great design features, including an adjustable leg rest and simple, adjustable reclining system for your baby. The strap clasp is magnetic to save a little time, and the canopy has a peekaboo window and good ventilation. The bottom storage basket is also on the larger side for a travel stroller and can comfortably fit a backpack. The stroller gilded beautifully over each surface we tried; there was no difference between rolling over the smooth hardwood and the shag carpet, and it handled gravel without issue. And it held up just fine in the durability test.

The Details: 15.4 pounds | 41 x 26 x 20.5 inches assembled | 11 x 27.25 x 20.25 inches folded | 50-pound weight limit

Travel + Leisure / Claire Cohen

Best Budget

Kolcraft cloud plus stroller.

It comes with a tray for baby's food and drink but is still extremely lightweight and easy to fold.

There isn't a ton of space in the undercarriage for storage.

Strollers are unnervingly expensive; many new parents experience sticker shock when they first see those price tags. The Kolcraft Cloud Plus is not. And while it's not the prettiest of the bunch (there's some loud branding), it folds easily — it can even be done one-handed with a little effort and coordination. We love that unfolding can also be done one-handed.

The Cloud Plus doesn't fold down quite as small as most every other one we're testing; the shape is somewhere between an umbrella and normal travel stroller. It's very lightweight, which we love, but since it doesn't fold small enough to fit in an overhead bin and doesn't have a strap or handle, it's not as portable as other options.

This stroller is the only one we tested with a tray for the baby's food and drink; the tray is removable if you're looking to save space. There are also two small cup holders for the adults, though our travel mug did not fit in them. The storage basket can fit a small backpack. The recline system is pretty easy to use and goes back three-fourths of the way to horizontal, and the canopy is good but not great. Same goes for the seat padding.

It rolled well on smooth surfaces, though there was some resistance on the carpet and a lot more on the grave. But we were able to push it through, and the stroller is light enough that when the wheels aren't rolling you can still keep moving. It's not the smoothest ride, but passable. The tray came unclasped during the durability test, but there was no actual damage. Overall, the price-to-performance ratio of the Cloud Plus is so good that it's an excellent budget option.

The Details: 11.8 pounds | 38 x 27 x 18 inches assembled | 10 x 33 x 17.5 inches folded | 50-pound weight limit

Travel & Leisure / Phoebe Cheong

Best for Warm Weather

Gb qbit+ all city stroller.

The back is made from breathable mesh to allow for airflow.

The handlebar isn't adjustable and the stroller is a bit heavier than other options.

The GB Qbit+ All City reminded us of the Nuna Trvl, but at a significantly cheaper price. The only areas the stroller fell short of the Nuna model are the canopy, which is not especially nice or expansive, and the fact that it's slightly harder to carry since it's a little heavier and has no actual carrying strap. That said, there's plenty to love about the Qbit. One-handed folding is smooth, and buckling and unbuckling the straps is easy. The seat is nicely padded, the entire back is made of breathable mesh to keep your child from overheating. The leg rest is simple to maneuver and goes all the way flat. The seat also reclines almost all the way back so that your baby can take a comfortable snooze. The included bumper bar comes off and on easily, and the handlebar looks and feels nice. There's enough storage for a backpack, too. As for maneuverability, it rolled great on all our testing surfaces and made crisp, tight turns. If you want something similar to and almost as good as the Nuna Trvl, this is your travel stroller.

The Details: 17.6 pounds | 41 x 24 x 17 inches assembled | 10.5 x 23 x 16.5 inches folded | 54.8-pound weight limit

Best Folding

Uppababy minu v2 stroller.

It folds up far more compactly than other UPPAbaby models.

The canopy sticks out a bit when the stroller is folded.

The Minu has a lot of the features familiar to UPPAbaby devotees — unstructured rear storage pouch, locking clasp to keep the stroller folded, excellent canopy — but unlike the brand's G-Luxe and G-Link models, this one is not an umbrella stroller. We actually think that makes for a better travel stroller. The Minu folds up more easily than other UPPAbaby models and far more compactly than an umbrella model. The fold can be done with one hand, but keep in mind the canopy needs to be tucked in once it's folded. A padded carrying strap easily fits over the shoulder. When carried, the Minu isn't the lightest or smallest option on our list, but it's portable enough and fits fine in an overhead compartment.

The Minu's seat back reclines nicely and easily for naps, and the handlebar feels good on the palms. The canopy's magnetic mesh window is handy and easy to keep open, and the sun shade for keeping the brightness out of your baby's eyes is one of the best we saw in our tests. The seat's padding is ample, though we'd like it if the leg rest were adjustable. We did appreciate the sizable bottom storage basket.

In terms of maneuverability, the Minu performed fine. It didn't make quite as tight turns as the Joolz or Nuna, and it felt a bit heavier to push, but it handled the gravel really well. A canopy rod popped out of place when we pushed the stroller off the table, but we were able to fix it pretty easily. Overall, while the stroller is expensive, it's not the priciest on the list and is worth it for the well-crafted features.

The Details: 14.75 pounds | 41 x 31 x 20.5 inches assembled | 12 x 22.5 x 20.25 inches folded | 50-pound weight limit

Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson

Best for Cities

Babyzen yoyo2 stroller.

It's very well-padded, folds up into a tidy package, and has a convenient carrying strap.

The clips and buckles can be hard to maneuver.

Folding the Babyzen Yoyo 2 took two hands and, while not difficult, was a little more involved a process than with some other strollers. Unfolding is pretty easy, except we noticed our feet getting caught in straps a few times. While folding and unfolding were slightly disappointing, we love how portable this stroller is. It folds up very small and has a comfortable padded shoulder strap as well as a metal bar for easy carrying. And it fits easily into an overhead storage bin so it's a great option to consider when flying with a baby .

The Yoyo 2 has nice features, too. The seat padding is especially cushy, and the seat reclines three-fourths of the way back to horizontal (though the recliner is a bit tricky to figure out). There's also a pocket in the back and a decent storage basket underneath that can fit a small bag. The canopy is good, though we'd prefer the peekaboo window to be mesh instead of plastic.

This stroller especially stands out for its handling. We were able to maneuver this stroller through the safety cones with such ease, we could really see this stroller being helpful at a crowded grocery store or airport.

The Details: 14.7 pounds | 41 x 28.8 x 17 inches assembled | 8 x 20 x 16 inches folded | 40-pound weight limit

Best Double

Uppababy g-link v2 stroller.

It folds more easily and rolls more smoothly than we expected from a stroller this size.

It doesn't fold down very small, and unfolding it could be easier.

For such a large contraption, this double stroller folds with surprising ease. We were even able to do it one-handed with a little effort, which none of us expected. Unfolding is a little trickier, as it takes some force to unhook the locking clasp. As a double stroller, the G-Link 2 is not the most compact package when folded. Plus, it's an umbrella structure, so this one probably isn't fitting in many overhead bins. Carrying it was a little unwieldy, as should be expected with a double stroller, but there is a helpful handle, and the stroller is lighter than it looks. You can actually wheel it along when it's folded instead of carrying it, but it's not easy, and it bumped into us when we did so.

We like the canopies on the G-Link 2: quality material and good coverage. There are little storage pockets behind each seat, and it comes with a cup holder. You can also fit a purse or very small backpack in the undercarriage basket. The seats have generous padding, which extends to form a sort of calf rest for the riders. The straps buckle easily and have different height options; the seat backs have two recline positions and are super easy to adjust.

The stroller rolled well over all the surfaces, even the gravel, and it made much tighter turns than we anticipated. We also like that there are no wheels in the middle of the frame (as most double umbrella strollers have), which makes it easier to push without kicking the wheels or frame. Finally, it showed no damage after our durability tests.

The Details: 21.8 pounds | 41 x 25 x 28.25 inches assembled | 14 x 40 x 17.5 inches folded | 55-pound weight limit per seat

Cybex Libelle Compact Stroller

It's a modern-looking stroller that's easy to move.

It lacked some of the features we'd have liked to see at its price.

The Cybex Libelle Stroller looks sleek and is easy to fold down into an easy-to-store size. Unfolding this stroller is incredibly easy — perfect for families on the go. The wheels of this stroller turn more easily than some other styles and provides a smooth ride over most surfaces.

Due to its simplistic design, this stroller doesn't have extra pockets or cupholders, but its lightweight and compact style makes this a great option for traveling since the stroller can fit in the overhead bins of most airplanes. Just be aware that this model does not include a carrying strap, so if you plan to walk for long periods of time with the folded stroller, you'll have to carry it by its medal frame.

It handled pretty well over the smooth hard surfaces with no noticeable hiccups, but it struggled a bit on the gravel.

The Details: 13.7 pounds | 41 x 20 x 20 inches assembled | 8 x 22 x 14 inches folded | 55-pound weight limit

Best Maneuverability

Bugaboo butterfly stroller.

It takes next to no effort to push this stroller over terrains of all types.

The instructions have pictures rather than words, so they’re a bit unclear.

From sharp turns to steep curbs to rocky terrain, the Bugaboo Butterfly Seat Stroller easily traverses it all. Built with advanced four-wheel suspension and a lightweight frame, we loved how little effort it took to push the stroller, even with one hand. The wheels seemed to absorb bumps and shock well, keeping the seat stable and the baby in place. 

We were equally impressed with the stroller’s packing and traveling capabilities. Weighing in at just over 16 pounds and boasting a compact size when folded down, the Butterfly is easy to carry and even hoist in the air to stow in a plane’s overhead bin. It’s also simple to assemble, and it remained perfectly intact and undamaged after we dropped it.

Other useful features of this stroller include a Velcro rain cover, seat cover, spacious under-seat basket, padded handlebar with a wrist strap, reclining mechanism, and an easy-to-use foot brake. 

The Details: 16.1 pounds | 36.4 x 17.7 x 40.3 inches assembled | 17.7 x 9.1 x 21.3 inches folded | 48.5-pound weight limit

Best for Air Travel

It easily fits in overhead bins and is a high-quality, durable option.

At 14.6 pounds, it's one of the heavier strollers we tested.

The Cybex Coya is a stylish and durable stroller that families will be happy to use for their daily activities and while traveling. It folds up quickly and easily slides into airplane overhead bins for easy access as you board and de-board. The comfortable seat padding is removable for cleaning and the canopy comes down for sun and rain protection. The five-point harness is also incredibly easy to adjust and the seat itself reclines to be almost flat. Pair that with the adjustable leg rest and you have the perfect spot for your youngster to nap on the go.

We also love the cushioned handlebar that adds some extra comfort when pushing the stroller and the zippered pocket in the back of the canopy where you can store your phone or wallet for convenience. The cargo area is also a great size considering the overall compact nature of this stroller and easily fit our packed diaper bag . After our toss test, the stroller is still in great condition, although we do recommend investing in a dust bag if you're nervous about bumps and scratches while traveling.

The Details: 14.6 pounds | 38.2 x 17.3 x 31.1 inches assembled | 7.1 x 17.3 x 20.5 inches folded | 55-pound weight limit

Travel + Leisure / Joy Kim

Best Compact

Contours itsy.

Once folded, this is about the size of a large grocery bag.

Parents of older, larger children may not find it as useful.

If you like to live your life simply, the compact and convenient Contours Itsy may be the stroller for you. Right out of the box, it’s already nearly fully assembled — all you have to do is snap the bumper bar into place, which takes almost no effort. On top of that, it’s a no-frills option, so there’s no cup holder or oversized basket to weigh it down, take up space, or make things complicated. 

We did, however, love features like the secure bumper bar, easy-to-use harness, canopy with UV 50 sun protection, and padding on the crotch strap, which makes the stroller look comfortable. They also appreciated the small size of the foot rest, basket, and entire stroller in general, because it made using and transporting it a breeze.

When it was time to stow the stroller away (or pack it up for travel), we got a kick out of just how tiny it folds up — in its simplest form, it’s not much larger than a grocery bag. It’s also ultra-lightweight and easily folds with just one hand. 

The Details: 12.3 pounds | 32 x 39 x 18.2 inches assembled | 11 x 22 x 11 inches folded | 40-pound weight limit

Best Comfort

Baby jogger city tour 2 stroller.

This rolls smoothly on various terrains, making it comfortable for riders and pushers.

It did not fit in our overhead bin and isn't easy to fold one-handed.

Folding this stroller was pretty simple, though not quite as smooth as it was with some of the others. The unfolding process was a little finicky as well and took some practice. So what do we like about the Baby Jogger City Tour 2? The price is reasonable, it performed solidly on most of our tests, and it maneuvered exceptionally well over all surfaces. We noticed little perceptible difference between its rolling over the shag carpet and smooth wood surface, and while other strollers struggled a bit on the gravel, this one navigated it with ease.

In terms of portability, the City Tour 2 doesn't feel bulky and has a good hand carrying handle. We would have liked to see a shoulder strap, however, and it did not fit in our overhead bin. The seat back has a lot of recline, and the drawstring to pull and push the seat forward and back is easy to use. The seat has good structure and good padding; the straps work well and can be adjusted to different height levels. There's lots of leg room and adjustable calf support for the baby, and the canopy has a peekaboo window and goes up and down smoothly. We'd have appreciated some more storage space; you can't fit a backpack anywhere. When we pushed the City Tour 2 off a table, we did notice that a small foam pad came off, though we couldn't even figure out where it came from, and it did not structurally damage the stroller.

The Details: 14 pounds | 40 x 26 x 20 inches assembled | 7 x 22.5 x 19.5 inches folded | 45-pound weight limit

Best Umbrella

Uppababy jordan g-luxe stroller.

The umbrella folding feature is more straightforward to use than other folding models.

The button/ring-pull combination for folding it is a bit finicky and has to be timed perfectly.

The first thing to note here is that ​​umbrella strollers only fold one-dimensionally, so the result is narrow but long…like an umbrella. The other strollers on this list fold down via multiple joints and in multiple directions for a smaller and more squarish package; neither is necessarily better, but you'll want to decide what you want before buying a travel stroller.

This particular UPPAbaby model is a bit tricky to fold because the handle/ring combination used to do so is finicky and has to be timed perfectly. Once you get that, the folding is smooth, but the whole button-and-ring thing is a little annoying. As with most UPPAbaby products, however, the G-Luxe's features are pretty nice. There's an included cup holder that fits a travel mug easily, and the canopy is expansive with extra sun shade (there is no peekaboo window, however). The leg rest for the child is easy to adjust, and the straps feature a five-point harness and adjustable height levels. The seat padding is substantial without looking bulky, and the recline system, while only providing two settings, is exceptionally easy to use. The unstructured (perhaps too unstructured) pocket behind the seat is pretty spacious and in a good location, but the storage basket at the bottom of the stroller isn't particularly big.

The G-Luxe maneuvers well, with good tight turns, though it rattled noticeably over the gravel. It held up well during our durability tests and sustained no damage.

The Details : 16.5 pounds | 42.5 x 23.5 x 18.5 inches assembled | 15 x 41 x 11.75 inches folded | 55 pounds weight limit

Best Lightweight

Zoe the traveler.

It's one of the lightest options on this list.

The attachable snack tray is sold separately.

If you're heading off on a family trip and looking for a simple, lightweight travel stroller, this minimalistic design will do the trick. It's incredibly easy to assemble and takes just a few minutes to click the wheels and bumper bar into place. It also comes with a parent cupholder and back pocket to help keep your hands free throughout your journey. We did note that the cargo area is the perfect size for a small tote bag or purse, but it may not be large enough to fit diaper bags or weekender bags .

We love that this stroller comes with a removable seat liner that can be thrown in the washing machine after a trip to keep clean and fresh. The canopy can also be unzipped to expand and it has a peek-a-boo feature on top so you can check on your child without stopping. This stroller is also easy to push around on every type of terrain — especially around tight corners. The stroller is light enough to lift up stairs, but we do recommend you use two hands when carrying down the stairs. When it's time to disassemble the stroller, simply press a button on the handlebar and bend the stroller forward. It’s so easy we didn’t even need instructions to figure out how to do it. You can even fold and unfold this one-handed, perfect for on-the-go travels.

The Details : 13 pounds | 41 x 30 x 18 inches assembled | 22 x 19 x 10 inches folded | 45 pounds weight limit

Most Adjustable

Thule shine.

The leg rest and handlebar are adjustable, providing comfort for parents and passengers.

It can be hard to turn on sharp corners.

For such a compact stroller, the Thule Shine has plenty of storage, an expandable canopy with UPF 50+ protection , a reclining seat, and adjustable leg rests — everything you need for a busy parent and growing youngster to travel comfortably. We love the fast assembly of this stroller and the security of knowing everything clicks together when positioned and popped in correctly. There is an adjustable handlebar that is super easy to figure out, an extra rain canopy that you can pack and bring with you, and it is so easy to fold down. The harness does need to be clipped in a specific order before it can be fully buckled, which might become difficult with a fussy child, but we did find the seat to be comfortable and loved that it was extremely adjustable.

During our tests, it only suffered minimal scuffing and we never felt as though it would tip or fall while maneuvering through an obstacle course. We were able to fold the stroller with just one hand, but it was difficult to get it fully locked into the travel position without using two hands. It does stand upright once folded, so you can pop it down quickly for storage, whether you're coming back home and stashing it in a closet or boarding a plane. The stroller also fits easily into car trunks, but is most suitable for gate checking and is not likely to fit in overhead airplane bins. Overall, the stroller felt durable and was light enough that most parents would be able to carry it when needed. We felt like it would last through at least a couple of kids should your family use it multiple times, which is perfect for growing families.

The Details : 21.6 pounds | 35 x 42 x 20 inches assembled | 13 x 27 x 20 inches folded | 49 pounds weight limit

Travel + Leisure / Tamara Staples

Other Travel Strollers We Liked

Some of the travel strollers we tested did not make our list of recommendations. They all had positive attributes, but a few things held them back.

Summer Infant 3DLite : This is a decent budget option, but the price-to-performance ratio was just not quite as good as the Kolcraft Cloud Plus.

Doona Infant Car Seat and Latch Base : The easy-to-maneuver pick collapses into a car seat but the use case for this is too specific to pay as much as it costs, and many other stroller frames can fit a car seat.

Gb Pockit Air All Terrain : This one is incredibly light and folds easily, but there are basically zero features.

Ergobaby Metro+ Compact Stroller : While this is a sleek and stylish option, i t's not easy to carry, and the canopy adjustment makes a lot of noise, which could wake up a sleeping baby.

Munchkin Sparrow : The lightweight design is smart and thoughtful, but everything from the canopy to the storage bin is simply too small. 

Once we fully assembled all strollers in our New York City testing lab, we measured their height, length, and width, both fully opened and fully folded down. We also weighed each one, since weight is a particularly important aspect if anyone will be carrying the stroller during a trip. Then after carefully reading instructions, we repeatedly folded and unfolded each stroller. We took copious notes to record whether the folding process was intuitive and easy to execute. We considered how difficult it would be to do with a baby in one arm or with a whiny toddler pulling at our legs.

While each stroller was in its most compact setup, we tested it for portability. Is it easy to pick up? Comfortable to carry? Are there good handles and straps? Is it compact enough to fit in an airplane overhead bin (we constructed our own makeshift one according to standard airline measurements using a storage rack and a box). We recorded all this and more.

Next we carefully examined each stroller for included features. We looked for seat reclining and cushioning, cup holders, baskets and other storage space, canopy cover for protection from the weather, seat cushioning and reclining, and more. We tried the features out and took detailed notes on whether they were functional and helpful. We also practiced buckling and unbuckling the straps.

Then we put 25-pound sandbags in every stroller. We wheeled them forward and backward over hard floor, carpet, and gravel. We practiced U-turns and pivots and even wheeled them through a miniature obstacle course of cones. We also noted how well the brakes worked and if they were easy to engage.

Finally, we gave all of the strollers a durability test. We dropped each one from waist height and then pushed each off of a table slightly higher than that. We examined each after the falls to see if there was any damage.

After completing our lab tests, we sent each stroller out to real families to use these strollers over a period of six months to really put them to the test. Throughout the testing period, we asked how each stroller was holding up in terms of durability, comfort, portability, and more and updated our findings here.

Tips for Buying a Travel Stroller

Consider the types of travel strollers.

Not all travel strollers are designed with the same priorities in mind. Some may emphasize a lightweight and packable style while others are focused on maneuverability or durability. There are umbrella strollers, that are best for toddlers, but light enough for travel; jogging strollers with advanced suspension for smooth rides; and even full-sized strollers that may not seem best for air travel, but often include great features like storage compartments and padded seats when portability is less of an issue. When it comes to selecting the best travel stroller for your family, think about portability and convenience, but don't forget about comfort and bonus accessories to make your trip a smooth and unforgettable experience.

Pay attention to folded size

The biggest difference between a regular stroller and a travel stroller is that a travel stroller should pack up more compactly. You'll want it to fit easily into car trunks or train/airplane compartments without taking up much space. The Joolz Aer , our top pick, folds down to 8.5 (height) x 21 (length) x 17.75 (width) inches. That's a good guide for a stroller that will fit nicely into the aforementioned compartments.

Look for storage space and additional features

Just because your travel stroller might be a smaller and more scaled-down version of your everyday stroller, you shouldn't have to suffer from a lack of convenience. Good travel strollers still offer some storage space for small bags, toys, snacks, etc. Remember, you can always add a drink caddy for both your stroller and luggage. The seat for your baby should be padded and comfortable and able to recline; keep an eye out for a canopy that offers good coverage and buckles and straps that are easy to use. So, while compact folding and good portability are what make a travel stroller a travel stroller, be sure to look closely at the other features a stroller does (or does not) include.

Prioritize comfort and safety

At the end of the day, your stroller needs to be safe and comfortable for your child. Check for good, padded seats that recline. Make sure the straps don't look like they'd cut into your baby's shoulder or chest, and take note if there are leg rests. Note if the wheels can handle different surfaces well enough to keep the stroller from shaking and rattling too much.

Can I carry a travel stroller on board a flight?

If you can fit it in the overhead, you can bring it on board. If you have an umbrella model or are using your regular (non-travel) stroller, your best bet is to gate check it. But many travel strollers fold down so compactly that they fit easily into an overhead bin. In general, carry-on luggage should be 45 linear inches (22 x 14 x 9 inches) or less. You can reference the FAA website for more guidance.

What's the difference between a travel stroller and a regular stroller?

In short, a travel stroller is lighter than an everyday stroller and folds down far smaller. This means that the frames are usually thinner and have several folding joints, and the wheels will be smaller and less suited for rough terrain. Storage space, cup holders, and other accessories will usually be kept to a minimum. But a good travel stroller should give you everything you really need and even function well enough to be used every day — all while folding down nice and small and being easy to carry or pack away.

Traveling with a toddler? You're going to need a lot more than a travel stroller to help things go smoothly — or at least as smoothly as traveling with kids can be. These items will make your next trip a little easier, whether you're taking a road trip or flying internationally.

Graco Contender Slim Convertible Car Seat : This lightweight car seat is great for families who are traveling with lots of luggage — it weighs only 16 pounds and doesn't feel as bulky to carry around as other options. Installation only takes about 15 minutes.

​​ Stokke JetKids BedBox : Kids can ride on this spacious suitcase through the airport (a lifesaver for little ones who get bored while traveling), then turn it into a footrest or bed on the plane. It also comes in multiple colors and can be decorated with stickers.

Why Trust Travel + Leisure

Chris Abell is the Associate Editorial Director at Travel + Leisure , and he is a parent and frequent traveler. He's owned the Uppababy G-Luxe and the Joolz Aer, and he helped design and execute the testing for all the strollers on this list. Chris and commerce updates editor Hillary Maglin worked with a team of other editors and parents to test these strollers in our New York City lab space.

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• Baby and kid

The Best Travel Strollers

By Elise Czajkowski

A good travel stroller can make the difference between a jaunty vacation and a miserable slog.

We researched dozens of travel strollers, tested seven on a variety of trips involving planes, trains, buses, and cabs, and concluded that the Uppababy Minu V2 is the best option to keep parents and tots happy. Unlike most travel strollers, you’re sacrificing very little in comfort and maneuverability with the Minu V2—which is why many people find it’s also the ideal everyday stroller.

If you’re looking for a lighter, simpler option, the Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Stroller is a great budget pick.

Everything we recommend

Uppababy Minu V2

The best travel stroller.

This comfortable, sturdy travel stroller handles bumpy streets better than the competition and is easy to fold one-handed. Many parents love it for everyday use as well.

Buying Options

Budget pick.

Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Stroller

Simple and sturdy.

This less-expensive option handles rough terrain well and offers the best on-the-go napping option of all the strollers we tested.

What we looked for

Being able to quickly collapse or unfurl the stroller is crucial when traveling.

We prioritized strollers that are easy to steer one-handed over bumpy surfaces and around tight turns.

A travel stroller should be small enough to store easily, whether in a closet or a packed car trunk.

You shouldn’t need to look at the manual to relearn how to use your stroller each time you pull it out.

Neither the Minu V2 nor the City Tour 2 Stroller is compatible with any of the picks in our guide to infant car seats ; if that’s a must, the Mountain Buggy Nano (2020+) is another good option . And if putting your stroller in an overhead compartment is a priority, we recommend the Babyzen Yoyo2 Stroller .

The Uppababy Minu V2 has many features that allow it to function as a full-size stroller, including an underseat basket that holds up to 20 pounds, a simple recline option that’s good for napping, and a handy backseat pocket for storing odds and ends. Its one-hand fold is impressively simple, and of the travel strollers we tested, it has the easiest harness to adjust and the most-intuitive brakes. It also has a large, zip-out sun canopy with UPF protection. You can use it—without attachments—with children as young as 3 months, or with Uppababy’s bassinet or select car seats with newborns. A kid doesn’t officially outgrow it until they reach 50 pounds—which is often grade-school age. But at 17 pounds, it’s heavier than our budget pick.

The Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Stroller isn’t quite as simple to fold, recline, or buckle as the Minu V2, but it has the most comfortable handlebar of the travel strollers we tested, a decent canopy with UV protection, and a good amount of underseat storage (though it is harder to access than the Minu V2’s). Its large, adjustable footrest, long seat, and deep recline make it the best stroller that we tested for on-the-go naps, even for older kids (it fits kids up to 45 pounds). At 15.1 pounds, it’s a couple of pounds lighter than the Minu V2 and, unlike that stroller, comes with a travel bag.

The research

Why you should trust us, who this is for, how we picked and tested, our pick: uppababy minu v2, budget pick: baby jogger city tour 2 stroller, other good travel strollers, the competition.

I’ve been writing about strollers for Wirecutter for more than two years, and I’ve tested dozens of strollers from 16 brands in that time. For a 2023 update to our guide to travel strollers, I researched more than a dozen popular models and tested seven with my 1-year-old son.

My husband and I brought these strollers on international flights, regional trains, and local buses, and we loaded them in and out of cabs and cars of various sizes. Other Wirecutter parents tested strollers on their summer trips, and I badgered people around my neighborhood about their experiences with travel strollers.

This article builds on the work of writer Sonjia Hyon, who logged 130 miles testing nine travel strollers for an earlier version of this guide.

For many families, a travel stroller will never be necessary; for others, it may be the only stroller they ever need. In general, travel strollers are smaller and lighter than full-size strollers and fold down to fit easily in many forms of transportation.

If you don’t travel regularly, or you’re mostly visiting people who have a spare stroller, you can forgo one entirely and rely on carriers and car seats. On the other hand, I know plenty of parents who use a travel stroller as their everyday go-to; it’s a particularly good option for anyone who is living in a small space or has to carry a stroller up and down steps on a regular basis.

Travel strollers have increasingly replaced umbrella strollers as the go-to lightweight, foldable option for travelers, which became clear when we noticed brands discontinuing their umbrella strollers and making travel models instead. They are primarily distinguished by their fold; a travel stroller collapses into a more compact, suitcase shape while umbrella strollers fold into a long, golf bag shape. This extra convenience comes at a cost; travel strollers are generally much pricier. All of the so-called budget travel strollers we tested in 2023 were more expensive than the priciest model we considered for our guide to umbrella strollers .

You do, of course, have to make some compromises. The travel strollers that fold the most compactly are likely to be the hardest to fold; the lightest strollers do not maneuver as well as heavier options. And all lack some features that many parents love in their full-size strollers, such as large storage baskets, reversible toddler seats, and adjustable handlebars.

If you’ve already purchased a full-size stroller that you like and are looking to add a travel stroller, you may want to look first at options from the same brand. Stroller manufacturers keep many things consistent across their lines, so you’ll find that elements like the type of brake, the style of the buckle, and the feel of the handlebar are familiar. For instance, the Uppababy Cruz V2 and Minu V2 share the same harness that’s easy to adjust and buckle, which I consider to be one of the most important elements in a good stroller.

More travel strollers are available now than when we began testing in 2018, as high-end brands have begun to offer more luxe options. We began our 2023 research by looking at the updated models of our three past picks—the Uppababy Minu V2 has replaced the original Minu, the Babyzen Yoyo2 Stroller has replaced the Yoyo+ Stroller, and the Mountain Buggy Nano (2020+) has replaced the original Nano. We also read online reviews for dozens of strollers to determine other good options to test. Based on our research, we determined that a good travel stroller is:

Easy to push and maneuver: Because a travel stroller needs to perform in a variety of environments inside and outside, we prioritized strollers that are easy to push on uneven terrain and able to maneuver through tight spaces. We only tested strollers that could be pushed and steered one-handed. I took seven strollers home and tested them several times in different conditions, including over cobblestones and uneven streets, in and out of subways, and up and down stairs. I also put them through a test course in our Long Island City, New York office, using sandbags in the toddler seat to test maneuverability and the one-handed push.

Easy to fold and unfold: A travel stroller needs to be easy to quickly fold and unfold; ideally, you should be able to collapse or unfurl a stroller while holding a squirming baby or kicking toddler. In my testing, I timed how long it took to fold and unfold each stroller and if it required one or two hands.

Easy to carry and stow: The stroller should fold down to a compact size; some even get small enough to fit into the overhead compartment on an airplane. We didn’t prioritize that ability, since different airlines and planes have different requirements, and it may be up to individual flight crews to decide if you can put a stroller in the overhead bin. We weighed each stroller ourselves, and the ones we tested ranged from 13 to 17 pounds, a close enough number that it didn’t end up being a major factor in our decision making. We also looked for strollers that have a shoulder strap or travel bag for carrying.

We liked to see that strollers had an option for clicking in an infant car seat, though neither of our picks are compatible with our best infant car-seat picks .

We also looked for a reclining seat, an easily adjustable harness, a decent-size canopy for sun protection, and an accessible underseat storage basket. I tested how easy it was to clean up food messes by smearing jam and whipped cream on all of the strollers and seeing how hard it was to remove stains with just baby wipes or fabric cleaner. Where small children go, messes follow—that’s why we devoted an entire article to  how to clean a stroller .

The Uppababy Minu V2 is an exceptionally comfortable travel stroller for children and parents. It’s similar to the previous version of the Minu, which was our top pick for years, but it improves on that model with a simpler-to-adjust harness, a bigger sun canopy, and an adjustable footrest.

I found that it was sturdy enough to maneuver on bumpy cobblestone streets, light enough for one person to haul up short flights of stairs with a child buckled in, and simple enough to fold one-handed and throw in the back of a car. It has a comfortable handlebar, ample underseat storage, a large canopy with UPF protection , and a harness that adjusts quickly and intuitively.

It has a fantastic one-handed fold. The Minu V2 is the only one of our picks with a one-handed fold—you slide a lever and push a button simultaneously on the handlebar, push the whole thing forward, and the stroller collapses onto itself. The unfold is also fairly simple; undo a latch on the side and pull up on the handlebar, and it all flings open. The stroller stands up pretty well on its own when folded. In our tests, we found that it took less than 10 seconds to fold or unfold the stroller.

It’s easy to carry. The Minu V2 includes a carry handle and a shoulder strap, so it’s easier to pick up for short hauls than our other pick. (Though at 17 pounds, it’s not particularly comfortable to tote around for long periods.) Uppababy also sells a travel bag that lets you access the TravelSafe program , an additional two-year warranty added onto the original product warranty that offers replacements for parts damaged during air travel.

The harness is simple. The simple plastic buckle is easy to close and open. I find the Uppababy’s harness straps to be the easiest to use of any strollers I’ve tested because the shoulder and waist straps are permanently connected (on other strollers, including the city tour 2, our budget pick, they can separate). This does mean wiggling your child’s arms in and out of the straps, which some parents find more taxing. The harness straps are also the easiest to adjust of any that we tested; simply slide the strap up and down along the back of the child’s seat to change the height, and pull on the ends of the straps to tighten or loosen.

The recline and incline function on the seat is straightforward. You simply pull down a buckle to recline and pull up on two straps to incline. It does take some effort to incline with a toddler in the seat, but none of the travel strollers that we tested were any easier.

The brakes are intuitive and easy to engage, even when you’re barefoot. Like the Uppababy Cruz V2 , a pick in our guide to full-size strollers , the Minu V2 has two brake pedals—a red to lock and a green to unlock—that are easy to engage and, based on their position, allow you to see from a distance if the stroller is locked.

It can be used for a long time and has plenty of storage. With an additional attachment, the Minu V2 can be used with the Uppababy bassinet as well as several infant car seats , making it a good option for newborns, and it can fit a child as young as three months without any accessories. The seat can hold a child up to 50 pounds, the maximum of the travel strollers we tried, and the underseat storage basket can hold up to 20 pounds, the most of any travel stroller we tested, making it popular as an everyday stroller, with good reason. It lacks some of the best features of the larger, more expensive Uppababy Cruz V2 —a reversible toddler seat, a storage basket that can handle a grocery haul, an adjustable handlebar—but it’s narrower, lighter, and faster to fold.

The canopy, seat fabric, and underseat basket can be removed for hand-washing. In our cleaning tests, it was hard to get stains out of the green fabric of our stroller; even after using a stain remover, we could see dark splotches on the seat.

Uppababy strollers come with a two-year limited warranty and an extra year if you register your stroller within three months of purchasing.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The first Minu V2 that we tested held up well for several weeks of travel—and then, one day it refused to fold. We contacted Uppababy, which said this is not a known issue (although we found a few online complaints of a similar issue with the original Minu) and that anyone with this problem would be issued a new frame immediately; our replacement stroller has held up just fine so far. Given Uppababy’s reputation for good strollers, we’re fairly confident that we simply got a lemon.

At nearly 17 pounds, the Minu V2 is the heaviest of the strollers we tested. It’s also one of the largest when folded, meaning it may need to be gate-checked when boarding a plane. (Though it is larger than almost all airlines’ official requirements for on-board luggage, it may fit in the overhead bins on larger airplanes.) In our travels, it required some careful, Tetris-like finagling to squeeze it into a hatchback alongside our luggage, although one tester was able to fit it behind the driver’s seat of a sedan.

Like all of the travel strollers we tested, it sometimes requires a little shoving to get it to collapse fully. And because of the way the canopy is attached, it sometimes felt flimsy, and it occasionally popped off the frame on one side when unfolding or carrying the stroller up stairs with a child inside.

Weight: 17.3 pounds Frame dimensions: 20.5 by 36 inches (WL) Folded size: 20.5 by 23 by 13 inches (WLH) Child weight, height limit: 50 pounds, 40 inches Storage basket weight limit: 20 pounds Car seat compatibility with an adapter: Uppababy Mesa; Maxi-Cosi Mico Max 30 Infant Car Seat, Mico NXT Infant Car Seat, Mico AP Infant Car Seat, and Mico Max Plus Car Seat; Nuna Pipa, Pipa Lite, Pipa Lite Lx, Pipa Lite R, Pipa Rx, and Pipa Lite Rx; the Cybex Aton, Aton 2, Aton Q, and Aton M Second child adaptability: ride-along board available for purchase Wheel diameter: front wheels 5 inches, rear wheels 6.5 inches Included accessories: bumper bar Add-on accessories: cup holder , travel bag , parent organizer , bassinet , ride-along board , snack tray , rain shield , and basket cover

If you’re willing to sacrifice a one-handed fold, an easily accessible storage basket, and a notably easy-to-buckle harness, the Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Stroller is a remarkably solid and maneuverable stroller for its price. It handles bumpy streets and cobblestones without complaint, and I found the handlebar’s height and material more comfortable than those on the other less-expensive options we tested.

The City Tour 2 Stroller also has a large adjustable footrest that allows a young toddler to lie almost completely flat; paired with its built-in UV 50+ sun canopy, it’s a great option if on-the-go naps are a priority. For many parents, the best thing about this stroller is that it doesn’t feature anything too noteworthy or fussy; it’s a simple stroller that just works.

The fold is simple, but it requires two steps and both hands. Slide a lever and push a button to fold down the handlebar, then pull up on a strap on the inside of the seat to collapse the whole thing. (If you have the adjustable footrest up, you need to put it down for maximum compactness.) To unfold, undo a latch on the side and click it all into place. In our testing, it took about 10 seconds to fold the stroller (including lowering the footrest) and about 7 seconds to unfold.

The buckle has five pieces but stays together well. The shoulder and waist straps on each side click together, which allows you to simply slide your child’s arm through the shoulder straps rather than attach five separate pieces. One tester found that these pieces tended to separate when her toddler was getting out of the stroller, requiring her to clip them again the next time. But the straps remain snug once buckled. Reclining and inclining the seat is simple—pinch a clamp and pull down on the seat to recline, then pinch the same clamp and push up to incline. As with all of the travel strollers we tested, inclining can be a challenge with larger children.

The underseat basket can easily hold a day’s worth of stuff. The underseat basket holds 15 pounds—not as much as our top pick, but more than most of the strollers we tested.

The seat fabric of the City Tour 2 Stroller can be machine washed; other parts should be hand-washed. In our cleaning tests, we found that food wiped easily off of the black fabric, and any lingering smudges disappeared with stain remover. Unfortunately, we can’t say if this was due to the dark color or the fabric itself, but this stroller comes only in black or gray (you can also buy a blue-green, special-edition model that’s about $60 more) while the Minu V2 comes in many colors.

It also comes with a travel bag, which adds another layer of protection if you’re gate-checking a bag or putting the stroller away for long-term storage.

Baby Jogger strollers come with a lifetime warranty for manufacturer defects on the frame, and a one-year limited warranty on the fabrics. And though it doesn’t offer the same sort of TravelSafe program as Uppababy, the company said they “are always willing to help our customers where we can with damaged goods.”

The canopy can be hard to unfurl. The peekaboo window is secured with Velcro, which means it could wake up a sleeping child when undone. (The peekaboo flap can also be held open with a button.) The single brake pedal must be pushed up from the bottom to unlock, which is tricky if you’re barefoot or in open-toe shoes; the Minu V2’s two pedals are easier to use. And though the City Tour 2 Stroller does come with a travel bag, the stroller itself doesn’t feature a shoulder strap for carrying.

The seat’s most upright position is somewhat reclined. As with other Baby Jogger strollers that we’ve tested, the seat is never fully upright, which can be frustrating for a bigger kid who wants to look around (or a parent who doesn’t want a toddler to nap). The harness can be a challenge to adjust—the waist straps in particular take some time—and to change the height of the shoulder strap, you need to rethread the straps through the back of the toddler seat, which can’t be done with a child in the stroller. Unlike the Minu V2, the back of the seat doesn’t have a pocket for small items.

The stroller does not stand on its own when folded. It always needed to be propped against a wall or laid down flat. And I found that I sometimes smashed my hand when pushing down to make sure that it was folded as compactly as possible. The stroller also doesn’t have a mechanism for the whole stroller to stay attached to itself when folded; if you grab the handlebar when the stroller is folded, it will pull away from the body.

At 5 foot 2, one tester found it was difficult to fold the handlebar down and needed to stabilize the stroller by putting her foot on the underseat basket for leverage; at 5 foot 7, I didn’t have the same issue.

Weight: 15.1 pounds Frame dimensions: 20 by 39 inches (WL) Folded size: 20 by 22.5 by 9.5 inches (WLH) Child weight, height limit: 45 pounds, 40 inches Storage basket weight limit: 15 pounds Car seat compatibility with an adapter: Baby Jogger City Go Infant Car Seat, City Go 2 Infant Car Seat, and City Go Air Infant Car Seat; Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 Elite and SnugRide SnugLock 35 Platinum Second child adaptability: stroller cannot be adapted; City Tour 2 Double Stroller is also available, but we have not tested it yet Wheel diameter: front wheels 5 inches, rear wheels 6 inches Included accessories: travel bag Add-on accessories: belly bar , parent console , and weather shield

If you need or want to travel with a car seat: The Mountain Buggy Nano (2020+) is equipped with a universal car seat adapter—a genius feature that all stroller companies should adopt. Not only can you use many infant car seats with the nano—including any of our infant car seat picks —but it works with lightweight toddler car seats and convertible travel car seats like the Cosco Scenera Next Convertible Car Seat , which we recommend as the best convertible car seat for travel .

But the canopy rests against the handlebar when closed, making the stroller uncomfortable to push for long periods, especially in the heat. It also has finicky harness straps that never felt tight enough and a brake that’s easy to trip accidentally.

If a stroller that fits in most overhead compartments is crucial: Consider the Babyzen Yoyo2 Stroller , which has the smallest fold of any of the strollers we tested. It meets the International Air Transport Association standards for carry-on bags, and I’ve seen people putting it in the overhead bins on several flights—even though at 17.3 inches wide, it is wider than the official width limit of 14 inches on many airlines. The fabric was also the easiest to wipe clean of every stroller we tested.

But its multistep folding mechanism is frustrating; it involves pushing a button and pulling a handle underneath the seat, which means crouching down and feeling around for the right spots. It’s also difficult to push and steer in a hurry; in our tests, it veered off course easily when pushing one-handed. And the front tires had a tendency to spin uncontrollably after hitting a bump, creating a drag that took a few seconds to correct.

This is not a comprehensive list of everything we tested in previous iterations of this guide; it only includes strollers that are still available for sale.

The 16-pound Bugaboo Butterfly is well made and easy to maneuver, but multiple testers said they found the handlebar uncomfortable to push, particularly on hills. I also found that I sometimes struggled to get it unlocked and unfolded in a hurry—an important feature of a travel stroller.

At about $500, the nearly 16-pound Nuna Trvl is the most expensive travel stroller that we tested, and it has some excellent features, including the simplest fold we saw on any travel stroller. But it is very large when folded with the belly bar attached, and when the canopy is closed, it covers the handlebar, making it uncomfortable to push.

The dual handlebars of the Summer Infant 3Dlite Convenience Stroller , our umbrella stroller pick , make it nearly impossible to push one-handed—an important feature if you’re traveling by yourself and need your other hand for carrying other items. If you don’t mind using two hands and relying on a simpler but less maneuverable stroller than those recommended in this guide, you can save money by using an umbrella stroller over a travel model.

The Zoe the Traveler is only 13 pounds and has some nice features, including a parent cup holder, but it didn’t maneuver as well as I’d like. I struggled to push it off the subway, and it nearly tipped forward from a small, uneven bump in the sidewalk. It was also one of the hardest strollers to unfold.

We tested the 11-pound Zoe XL1 Best in 2018 (which has since been renamed The Tour+) and dismissed it after finding it harder to push and maneuver than other travel strollers we tested. It would frequently stop suddenly, causing the parent to pitch forward.

The 9.5 pound GB Pockit Air All-Terrain and the 13-pound GB Pockit+ All-City were dismissed because they didn’t feel sturdy.

The Kolcraft Cloud Plus Stroller was dismissed because it did not feel durable, was challenging to maneuver, and didn’t have a working lock.

This article was edited by Rachel Hurn and Kalee Thompson.

Meet your guide

Elise Czajkowski

Elise Czajkowski is a freelance writer and editor covering strollers for Wirecutter.

Further reading

Traveling With Little Kids Can Be Tough. The Right Gear Can Help.

by Kerry Davis McGuinness

From compact car seats and cribs to portable blackout shades and white noise machines, the right tools for travel can lead to less fuss—and more fun.

The Best Travel Car Seats

by Christina Szalinski and Rebecca Gale

After testing 17 lightweight, portable car seats, we have five good options for infants, toddlers, and big kids to recommend.

The Best Stroller Wagons

by Liz Iversen

Got kids and gear you need to schlep to the soccer field, the beach, or the neighborhood block party? A stroller wagon might be for you.

The Best Full-Size Strollers

by Elise Czajkowski

We considered more than 100 full-size strollers to determine the best ones to transport your kids and all of their stuff. These are the top five.

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The Best Travel Strollers We Tested on Planes, Trains, Automobiles, and Every Kind of Terrain

They’re easy to push, easy to fold—and actually easy to fit in an airplane’s overhead compartment.

In This Article

Our Favorite Travel Strollers

• Is a Travel Stroller Worth It?
• Strollers on Planes

Stroller Reviews

• Our Testing Process

Our Experts

• Factors to Consider
• Stroller Safety

Parents / Leticia Almeida

When my son was stroller age, we were not yet in today’s golden era of travel strollers. You either risked gate-checking your fancy SUV-size standard stroller , or you took a less-expensive umbrella stroller that you didn’t mind getting beat up. But those of you with little ones right now are in luck, as there are dozens of ultra-light, ultra-compact travel strollers available that you can fold one-handed and sling over your shoulder while juggling a baby or your other bags, toss in your car trunk, and even stash in the overhead compartment of a plane. 

For more than two years, I’ve been testing these strollers in our lab, while other parents on our staff take them (and their kids) all over the world to help you choose the best travel stroller for your next trip. While every family’s needs are different, the ideal travel stroller should be durable, portable, maneuverable, lightweight, and worth your money . Plus, it should be comfortable and practical to use when you get to your destination.

• Best Overall: Joolz Aer+ Lightweight Stroller
• Best for Airplane: Cybex Coya
• Most Comfortable: Uppababy Minu V2
• Easiest to Push: GB Qbit+ All City
• Best Luxury: Nuna TRVL Stroller
• Best Double: Uppababy G-Link V2
• Best Budget: Munchkin Sparrow
• Best for Car Travel: Baby Jogger City Tour 2
• Best for Trains and Buses: Babyzen YOYO2

In our New York lab , we assembled, wheeled, turned, pushed, dropped, and folded each stroller to find which met our standards. My co-author also spoke to two pediatricians about stroller safety, as well as the comfort and health of the grownups behind the wheels. 

Through the months, in addition to adding new products, I’ve changed this list based on what our staffers experienced while traveling with them. One luxury pick I once loved broke after its first gate-check. Another that I initially thought was overrated got rave reviews from our real-world tester, not to mention the many parents I stopped on the streets of Brooklyn to ask about it (the life of a shameless parenting editor!). So, we’ll continue to test travel strollers throughout the year and will keep coming back to update you with the very best of the best. — Sabrina Rojas Weiss

Is a Travel Stroller Worth It? 

A travel stroller can make your excursions much more efficient and convenient. “Because families need to carry extra snacks, clothes, and other supplies while traveling with kids, a portable stroller can help lighten the overall luggage load,” says Betty Choi, M.D. , a California-based pediatrician, author, and mother of two. “If a stroller folds easily and feels light, it may help conserve your energy for carrying all of the other important things.”

In order to be small, foldable, and light, many travel strollers sacrifice storage space, extra comfort accessories like leg rests or large canopies, and technical features like shock absorbers. For this reason, you may not want a travel stroller to be your main everyday stroller—at least not if you have a very small baby or walk through various terrain on a regular basis. But many parents, especially those with older toddlers, are happy using just one super compact set of wheels, and if that’s the case, a good travel stroller is absolutely worth your purchase.

Can You Take a Travel Stroller on the Plane?

If you want to check your stroller, most airlines won’t charge you for it. And most will also allow you to gate-check a folded stroller if you need it to get through the airport. Many of the compact strollers on this list are also advertised as fitting into overhead bins—which is a welcome option for those of us who dread getting to your destination only to discover your much-needed stroller is a mangled, ruined mess. If you choose to take your stroller as carry-on, that will count as your larger item. We tested the strollers in this list in a space the size of a standard overhead bin, but bin sizes vary by airplane. Policies also vary by airline, so always ask (and ask again!) before you fly. And still, come prepared with a storage bag in case the flight is overbooked and you’re asked to gate check anyway.  

Best Overall

Joolz aer+ stroller.

Bloomingdale's

Why We Like It

When asked to share her experience with the Joolz Aer+ stroller, our lab tester gave one word: “WOW!” She was impressed with how quick it was to assemble (just two minutes) and loved the overall design. Even when loaded with a 25-pound sandbag or squirmy toddler, this stroller glides around with ease . We could smoothly turn corners while using just one hand and that the wheels had excellent shock absorption. Perhaps her greatest compliment for this stroller, however, was about how effortless it was to fold up. Whether you’re about to board an airplane or hop on the tram at Disneyland, you won’t have to worry about how quickly you can fold up your stroller with the Joolz Aer+.

Portability: Not only did we find this super easy to fold one-handed in the lab, but our real world testing parent can’t stop telling us how much she loves this feature. She even impressed all the nurses and patients at the pediatrician’s office with a demo. 

What Parents Say

“We were in and out of a car every weekend with this stroller over the summer, and it could not have been easier to carry and load into the car. Folding it in five seconds when your car is double parked excruciatingly close to oncoming traffic is the best feeling in the world.” —Claire, mom of a 1-year-old

But Take Note

This stroller has plenty of positives, but it is expensive. Priced at $449, the Joolz Aer+ may be a great contender for your baby registry so that a group of friends or family members can pitch in on it together. 

The Details:

• Size open: 32.7 x 17.7 x 41.5 in
• Size folded: 21 x 17.7 x 8.5 in
• Weight: 13.4 lbs
• Age range/weight limit: 6 months to 4 years

Parents / Jessica Juliao

Best for Airplane

When our tester used this stroller for a three-week trip to Europe, her primary concern was how easy it was to travel with. Thankfully, the Cybex Coya did not disappoint. Our tester told Parents that the Coya folded down into an “extremely compact” size that fit in the overhead bin of the airplane and inside the trunk of small European cars . “That was a huge win and made travel SO easy!” she said. “It really made our life as a stressed, traveling adult very easy.”

We also really like that this stroller is designed with your baby’s comfort in mind, no matter the weather. First, it has a  padded insert  that will keep your baby warm in cold weather. When removed, the mesh backrest allows lots of airflow, and the extendable UPF 50+ sun canopy protects kids from the hot sun. 

Portability: Our tester loved that the Coya’s carrying strap was long enough to fit over her shoulder, which made it really easy to carry onto an airplane or run through the train station with multiple bags. 

“This was our only stroller we traveled with, and it went through possibly every mode of transport—train, planes and automobile. The stroller also went through possibly every type of terrain—snow, mud, city sidewalk, and a small hike. It fit in the overhead bin of both [cross-Atlantic] and [European] flights.” —Hanna, mom of a toddler

While it may be considered a minor detail, parents should keep in mind that the handlebar on this stroller is not adjustable. Also, the seat is always slightly reclined, which can make it harder for kiddos to look out and about when they’re seated. 

• Size open: 31.1 x 17.3 x 38.2 in
• Size folded: 20.5 x 17.3 x 7.1 in
• Weight: 14.6 lbs
• Age range/weight limit: 6 months up to 55 lbs

Parents / Joy Kim

Most Comfortable

Uppababy minu v2 stroller.

 Amazon

This stroller is equally as comfy for parents to push and it is for little ones to ride. Your tot will love napping in its spacious seat that holds up to 50 pounds and reclines to an ideal level. And you won’t have to worry about them sitting in direct sun because of the generous sun canopy that unzips to an almost horizontal level and the mesh peekaboo window that welcomes extra air flow. 

For the adult behind the wheels, there’s a padded leather handle bar, pocket to stash a water bottle and phone, and a large storage basket that holds up to 20 pounds. Thankfully, this stroller has four-wheel suspension , which we found made it easy to take sharp turns and weave in and out of crowds, even while pushing it with one hand. 

Portability: With a little practice, parents will find that this stroller folds up quickly. After pressing the buttons on the handle to trigger the folding process, it collapses down on its own, which may require only one hand for a seasoned user. Plus, this stroller stays upright when folded and can be carried by its handle or padded strap.

“I took a stroll around Central park with this bad boy, and it performed well on crowded streets and even rocky uneven roads. It was easy to maneuver and super lightweight.” —Stella, mom of a 1-year-old

This stroller is on the heavier side—about 17 pounds—and probably won’t fit in overhead compartments of smaller planes. We recommend purchasing Uppababy’s travel bag, since it includes insurance against damage to the stroller by the airline once you enroll in the TravelSafe program. 

• Size open: 35.5 x 20.5 x 41 in
• Size folded: 12.5 x 20.3 x 23 in (with bumper bar)
• Weight: 16.9 lbs
• Age range/weight limit: 3 months to 50 lbs

Parents / Jhett Thompson

Easiest to Push

Gb qbit+ all city stroller.

This travel stroller landed near the top in our testing because it’s comfortable, easily maneuverable, portable, and durable. We especially loved its all-wheel suspension, which allowed it to move easily over different terrain in the Parents lab, including gravel, wood, and carpet. In fact, we barely noticed a difference when transitioning from carpet to gravel! 

This stroller has a padded seat that reclines nearly all the way back and comes with a breathable mesh at the top, which allows kids to nap comfortably while in transit. We also appreciate the adjustable footrest, which when placed in the straight-out position makes this stroller suitable for a newborn. 

Portability: We found this stroller to be easy to close and fold with one hand. The shoulder straps are comfortably padded, and it has a buckle that’s reasonably simple to do.

It proved a bit challenging when trying to wrangle a wiggly toddler into it at times. At slightly more than 17 pounds, this stroller is a bit heavier than some of the others we tested. It also doesn’t have a shoulder strap and might not fit in all overhead compartments. 

• Size open: 33 x 17 x 41.7 in
• Size folded: 17 x 10.4 x 22.8 in
• Weight: 17.2 lbs
• Age range/weight limit: Birth (with infant car seat) to 4 years (0-55 lbs)

Parents / Conor Ralph

Parents / Phoebe Cheong

Best Luxury

Nuna trvl lightweight stroller.

The Nuna Trvl is a luxurious travel stroller whose comfort, functionality, and efficiency rival that of an everyday stroller. We knew we were in for a treat when we saw that it comes in colors like “caviar” and “hazelwood.” Just like you’d expect from a luxury car, this stroller had one of the smoothest rides out of any that we tested and is covered in high-end finishes.  “All the materials feel really luxurious,” our tester shared. “The padding is very soft—like memory foam—and the handles and bumper bar [are covered in] faux leather.” 

We also love that this stroller is equipped with a water-repellant, UPF 50+ canopy that provides ample shade and multiple mesh windows that open with ease. It also fits into the overhead bin of most planes and has an under-seat compartment that is large enough to fit a backpack or diaper bag , which is a big plus for traveling. 

Portability: Aside from looking good, this stroller is also really practical. It’s super easy to fold one handed and felt very light when carrying it around—even though you have to carry it by the bumper bar because it doesn’t have a shoulder strap.

“Throughout the airport or getting in and out of the car, I’m able to easily fold it using my right hand while my left hand/arm is busy carrying other items, or a child! … After a month of using it in my neighborhood, through two airports, and throughout the Magic Kingdom, it’s still gliding over sidewalks like butter.” —Ashleigh, mom of two

If you’re in a hurry—which parents often are in an airport—you may find that the bumper bar can be a pain to put on and take off. 

• Size open: 20.25 x 32.5 x 44 in
• Size folded: 20.25 x 24 x 11 in
• Weight: 13.6 lbs
• Age range/weight limit: Up to 50 lbs

Best Double Stroller

Uppababy g-link v2 double stroller.

Editor's Note: The insights below are from when we tested the older Uppababy G-Link back in 2022 and have not yet tested the Uppababy G-Link V2 listed here. The new version is 2.5 pounds lighter and 2 inches narrower than its predecessor, but the rest of the details remain mostly the same.

Whether you have twins or young children of different ages, having a comfortable double stroller (that isn’t a pain to push around) is a must for travel. We love the Uppababy G-Link 2 because it maneuvers like a single stroller and has all the features needed to make kids comfortable. In addition to multi-position independent reclining seats, it has extra-large canopies and UPF 50+ sun shades. Plus, there are a few accessories that are included just for parents, including a removable cup holder, double storage pockets, and an oversized basket to keep all the essentials within reach. 

Despite having side-by-side seats, the G-Link V2 has a relatively narrow footprint . Less than 30 inches wide, it is slender enough to move through standard doorways but spacious enough for two children to sit comfortably. It’s also less expensive than some of the single strollers on our list, which is always a pleasant surprise for parents with two kids! 

Portability: Despite the larger size, this stroller is easy to fold up with one hand and can stand up when folded. Carrying it isn’t a hands-free experience, however, since it doesn’t have a shoulder strap. 

Since it’s naturally larger than single strollers, you’ll have to gate check this one before you board the plane. 

• Size open: 27.5 x 28.5 x 42 in
• Size folded: 40 x 20 x 14.5 in
• Weight: 22.3 lbs
• Age range/weight limit: 3 months up to 55 lbs per seat

Parents / David Carr

Best Budget Travel Stroller

Munchkin sparrow stroller.

Never has it been easier to pop a stroller into an overhead bin than it is with the Munchkin Sparrow. It folds up quickly and fits neatly inside a tiny carrying bag, so you can slide it into the bin without getting impatient looks from other flyers. Once inside its carrying bag, this stroller stands just 14 inches high, which is within the carry-on luggage parameters for most major airlines. 

Although it’s compact, this stroller has a slightly bigger seat than others in this category and can hold a child until they weigh 55 pounds. Our real-world testing baby was very comfortable in it. We also like that it has a breathable, mesh headrest and extendable handles for parents of varying heights.  

Portability: Weighing slightly less than 13 pounds, this stroller is easy to tote around, especially when packed away in its small carrying case that comes with handles.

“It folds up so small, I am able to fit it on the floor of the backseat [of my car] and have plenty of room for everything else.” —Allison, mom of an 8-month-old

The storage is seriously lacking in this stroller, you need two hands to fold it, and its sun canopy provides only the slightest sliver of shade. It’s also not the best on unpaved paths. 

• Size open: 39 x 18.5 x 28 in
• Size folded: 15 × 14 × 6.25 in
• Weight: 12.8 lbs
• Age range/weight limit: Up to 55 lbs and 41 in tall

Best for Car Travel

Baby jogger city tour 2 stroller.

If you're planning a family road trip, the Baby Jogger City Tour 2 is a great choice. It takes up considerably less room than a standard stroller does and slides easily into a trunk or backseat. Though it may be compact in size, the City Tour 2 is quite sturdy and moves well. In testing, it performed just as well as some of our top picks while cruising over bumps and around tight turns. We really liked how well it did over gravel. Best of all, it’s built to keep kids comfortable. It reclines far with an adjustable calf rest, has extra padding around the straps, and has a generous sun canopy with a peekaboo window to check on your kiddo. 

Portability: This 14.5-pound stroller comes with a handy carrying bag , which makes transporting it to and from the car a piece of cake. 

Though it slides into a car like a dream, this stroller doesn’t fit into an overhead bin. It isn’t the best looking, either. 

• Size open: 33 x 23 x 40 in
• Size folded: 6.8 × 16.9 × 21.6 in
• Weight: 14.3 lbs

Best for Trains and Buses

Babyzen yoyo2 stroller.

Whether you live in a city where you rely on public transit or plan to visit one, the Babyzen Yoyo2 is bound to make your life a whole lot easier. You can stash it just about anywhere (including an overhead bin), and it has a uniquely narrow frame , which makes it just right for weaving through crowded sidewalks, farmer’s markets, or outdoor art exhibits. 

Despite its compact size, this stroller’s seat is surprisingly roomy and padded, which we found to be necessary as it struggled to maneuver over rough surfaces. Still, we appreciate its various features that make it a safe, comfy ride for kids, including the five-point harness, multi-positioning reclining backrest, and UPF 50+ canopy extensions, and the soft, faux leather handlebar for parents. 

Portability: This stroller’s key feature is how small it is, both when in use and fully folded. It folds up into a convenient package and has a comfortable, padded shoulder strap that allows you to carry it hands-free while climbing up and down subway stairs—or in and out of trains and buses—so you can focus on carrying your kiddo. 

“[When packing my car] I was carrying my baby and a bag and wearing the stroller on my shoulder. My husband asked me if I wanted him to take the stroller from me. I had honestly forgotten that I was wearing the stroller!” —Rachel, mom of a toddler

Though the brand says it's a one-handed fold, our testing parents needed two hands—which isn’t always convenient when boarding a plane, train, or bus. Also, most of its accessories, including the newborn insert, are sold separately. 

• Size open: 41.7 x 33.8 x 17.3 in
• Size folded: 20.5 × 17.3 × 7.1 in
• Weight: 13.7 lbs
• Age range/weight limit: 6 months (birth with bassinet add-on) to 48.5 lbs

Other Notable Travel Strollers

• Doona : This stroller is basically an infant car seat with wheels, which saves you the step of your baby from one seat to another. However, your baby will outgrow it within a year, which makes it hard to justify the price. 
• Ergobaby Metro+ Deluxe Baby Stroller : While our tester thought that it was “nice looking,” “super compact” when folded, and overall “lovely” to push, they weren’t a fan of its 19-pound frame that didn’t come with a handle or shoulder strap.   
• Uppababy G-Luxe : Our testers said that the G-Luxe makes “tight turns” and “rolls smoothly” and loved that it “stands up when folded.” However, as a standard umbrella stroller, it’s not as small as the ultra-compact strollers on this list. 
• Bugaboo Butterfly Seat Stroller : This luxury option has a comfortable seat, a fully extendable canopy, and excellent maneuverability. But when our tester had to gate-check it and hadn’t fully folded the footrest, it snapped clean off. For such a price, we don’t think it should be quite so fragile.
• Contours Itsy : Though it’s one of the lightest strollers we’ve tried and is great for airplane travel, the seat doesn’t recline, and the weight limit is just 40 pounds.

Our Testing Process 

To test the travel strollers on our list, we enlisted parents and caregivers on our staff to put them to use both in the lab, at home, and on their travel excursions. While testing, they considered the following attributes: 

• Ease of Assembly: While timing themselves, our testers assembled their strollers, following the manufacturer’s instructions as needed. They noted how easy or difficult the process was and if they needed special tools or help from another adult. 
• Design: Our testers paid close attention to features that made the stroller comfortable for a baby and helpful for a parent, such as a five-point safety harness, reclining seat, adequate padding, ample storage, cup holder, and a sun canopy. 
• Durability: To make sure a stroller was durable, each tester dropped their stroller from table height onto the floor and inspected it closely for any damage. 
• Maneuverability: Whether pushing a baby or 25-pound sandbag, each tester took their stroller for a brisk walk, making sure to push it over various surfaces, bumps, up and down stairs, and around tight turns. And while at home and family vacation they paid attention to how their strollers handled the various terrain. 
• Ease of Folding: When collapsing their stroller, our testers noted whether or not they could do so with one hand (sometimes while holding a baby in the other), if they had to empty the storage basket before doing so, and if it stood upright when folded.  
• Portability: After folding, testers used the bag, strap, handle, or bar to determine how easily they could carry their stroller. They also noted whether or not it fit into an overhead bin and how easy it was to pack it into the trunk of a car. 
• Value: After considering each attribute, our testers gave their honest opinion on their stroller’s overall value. Specifically, they shared if they thought it would last a decent amount of time, if it lived up to their expectations, and if they would pay full price for the stroller or wait until it goes on sale. 

We interviews the following health care experts to gain a better understanding of what parents should look for in a travel stroller and how to use one safely with their child: 

• Betty Choi, M.D., a pediatrician, author, and mother of two
• Wendy Hunter, M.D., FAAP , a pediatrician and host of The Pediatrician Next Door

Factors to Consider When Buying a Travel Stroller

• Folded Size: While travel strollers are typically lightweight and small, this doesn’t always mean they are portable. Parents should consider how easy it is to carry the stroller (does it have a shoulder strap or handle?), if it stands up when folded, and if it will fit in the trunk of a car or overhead bin of an airplane. 
• Weight: There may be times when you have to fold up the stroller and carry it, so choosing one that is around 15 pounds or less will make it much easier to do so when the time comes. Having a lightweight stroller will also make traveling with kids a little less stressful, especially when you have to raise it into the overhead bin of an airplane or into the trunk of a car. 
• How and Where You’ll Be Traveling: Before purchasing a travel stroller, parents should consider the types of destinations they plan to visit. If you will be traveling by plane, choose a stroller that folds up easily and fits into an overhead bin. If you plan to do lots of walking over various surfaces, one that has excellent maneuverability and all-wheel suspension, like the GB Qbit+ All City , will serve both you and your child well. If you plan to be on the go a lot throughout your travels, consider a stroller that has a padded, reclining seat, wide, extendable sun shade, and ample storage, so that your baby will be comfortable and you can store all your necessities for the day. 
• Your Budget: Every family’s budget is different and an important factor to consider when buying a travel stroller. Ultimately, as long as your stroller has a comfortable seat, five-point safety harness, sun shade, and a place to store your baby’s things, he or she will have everything they need. 

How to Use Travel Strollers Safely

While strollers are generally safe to use, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) reminds parents that injuries can happen when they’re not used correctly. When choosing a travel stroller, the AAP recommends parents take the following precautions: 

• Safety Standards: Buy a stroller that was manufactured in the past few years. If it was made before 2014, check the Consumer Product Safety Commission to see if it’s been recalled. 
• Seatbelt: Always secure your child according to the manufacturer’s instructions by using the safety harness—ideally, a five-point safety harness . 
• Break: If your stroller has removable wheels, make sure that they are securely installed before using it. Whenever the stroller is parked, always use the brake to ensure it doesn’t roll away. 
• Age & Weight Guidelines: Dr. Hunter tells Parents that travel strollers are safe for infants as long as they meet the manufacturer’s height and weight guidelines. “It’s safe for babies to use a front-facing reclined stroller when they are about 3 months old,” Dr. Hunter says. “They can be seated in a more upright stroller around 6 months.” You should also avoid letting children sleep in the stroller—especially if they’re younger than 4 months old because they have a higher risk of suffocation.
• Storage: “Check that the stroller doesn’t fall over when you hang items on the back,” says Dr. Hunter. You can do this by keeping heavy items (diaper bags, purses, or backpacks) in the storage basket under the seat. Avoid hanging anything from the handlebars to prevent the stroller from tipping over.  

Laura Lu, MS , is a commerce and parenting writer at Parents and a mom of two. She has conquered theme park visits and braved airline travel with her kids, during which a travel stroller has been her trusty sidekick in getting her from point A to point B with ease. 

Sabrina Rojas Weiss is the associate editorial director for commerce at Parents and mother of an 11-year-old. She took her son’s trusty Uppababy G-Luxe all over the country, and it survived many a baggage handler. She’s tossed a lot of strollers off of tables to test durability in the lab.

Tips for Traveling with Young Ones this Holiday Season . American Academy of Pediatrics. 2023.

Safety tips help protect children from stroller injuries . American Academy of Pediatrics. 2016.

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Best Stroller-Car Seat Combos and Travel Systems

The logistics of getting a newborn from point A to point B can be a bit overwhelming, especially if you’re a first-time parent. That’s why many folks fill their baby registry with travel gear designed to make the task simpler. (Think: A stroller , car seat or carrier .) While each of the items mentioned above can be used individually, transferring a fussy newborn from a stroller to a car seat and back again can be an added stress you simply don’t need. The good news? Travel system strollers can be a saving grace.

A travel system—also known as a stroller-car seat combo—is simply a stroller and car seat designed to be used together. A car seat-stroller combo lets you easily clip the seat into a stroller frame, so you can transfer your sleeping baby from the car to the outside world without waking them up. Genius! There are a few factors to consider when choosing this type of transport system. To help you narrow down the options we’ve selected seven of the best car seat and stroller combos, so you can find one that works for your lifestyle and budget.

The Benefits of a Stroller and Car Seat Combo

While travel system strollers aren’t an absolute must, they do offer a couple key benefits. If your family takes frequent trips in the car, you can relax knowing that if baby happens to doze off, you don’t need to wake him when you reach your destination—simply lift the car seat from its base and click it into the stroller frame, and you and your sleeping babe are ready to roll.

The other major upside to travel systems is that you only have to buy one stroller that’ll see you and your child from birth through the toddler years. Newborns can’t ride in a regular stroller seat until they can sit up on their own (usually around 6 months), so if you don’t opt for a travel system, you’ll have to hunt for a stroller with a seat that fully reclines or stick with a baby carrier. Plus, buying a car seat-stroller combo instead of purchasing the gear separately can save you some money.

Stroller Travel System Types

There are different types of stroller-car seat combos available, including:

• Three-wheel travel systems. These are narrower and more compact than other travel system strollers, making them ideal for city-dwellers who need to navigate crowded spaces on a daily basis.
• Four-wheel travel systems. Sturdier than their three-wheeled counterparts, four-wheel travel systems are best for strolling over uneven terrain. Their wider profile means more storage space and a durable construction, but they tend to be bulkier than those with just three wheels.
• Jogger travel systems. These are designed for parents who want to take their little ones with them on the running trail. The larger wheels ensure a smooth ride (even over rough terrain), and the streamlined design makes jogging travel systems easy to steer.
• Double travel systems. Expecting twins, or have two kiddos very close in age? Double travel system strollers allow you to easily transport both babies, and can be customized to fit your family’s needs depending on the ages of your children.

What to Consider When Choosing a Stroller-Car Seat Combo

A stroller travel system is a big investment, so it’s important to find the right fit for your family. Below find a few factors to consider while browsing stroller and car seat combos.

• Height and weight limit. Travel systems include a rear-facing infant car seat and a stroller. Each item has its own height and weight limit, outlined by the manufacturer. Always double check these guidelines to make sure that the stroller-car seat combo is safe for your child to use.
• Additional safety features. All car seat and stroller combos are subject to strict federal safety standards and are safe when used appropriately. With that said, some options have additional features designed to keep your little one safe and secure. For example, some infant car seats have load leg or anti-rebound bar features that absorb energy in the event of a crash. Other elements to look for include a five-point safety harness, brakes that lock the stroller wheels and a UPF sun canopy.
• A lightweight car seat. Travel systems are designed for convenience, meaning the car seat section should be lightweight with an easy to grip carry handle.
• Configuration options. Most car seat-stroller combos offer multiple configuration options, so you can use them long after the newborn stage.

Stroller Travel System Comparison Chart

Best stroller car seat combos.

Get ready to click and go. Here are some of the best travel systems on the market right now, including a few options that have been put to the test by our product reviewers—aka new parents just like you!

Overall best car seat and stroller combo

• Four wheel suspension
• Multiple configurations
• LATCH base with bubble indicators
• High price point
• Infant car seat sold separately

First up is the UPPAbaby Vista V2 stroller and the Mesa Max car seat . Pegged as the top stroller-car seat combo in this year’s Best of The Bump awards , this dynamic duo is as good as it gets. Why? The stroller itself includes a bassinet attachment that can be used from birth as well as a toddler seat that accommodates children over 3 months. All-wheel suspension makes for a comfortable ride and a large under-seat basket has enough space for a diaper bag , plus any other supplies you may need. Better yet, it’s compatible with the new and improved Mesa Max car seat (sold separately). This infant car seat hits the mark in terms of safety thanks to a base with an anti-rebound bar and a load leg. It’s also incredibly easy to install and use with the Vista V2 stroller. Our product tester noted that the “the car seat was easy to click into the frame” and remarked upon the “smooth transition” when transferring her sleeping baby from the car to the stroller. Looking for an all-in-one travel bundle? Try the UPPAbaby VISTA V2 and MESA V2 travel system out for size.

Dimensions (open): 36" (L) x 25.7" (W) x 39.5" (H) | Dimensions (folded): 17.3" (L) x 25.7" (W) x 33.3" (H) | Stroller weight: 26.6 lbs. | Stroller capacity: 50 lbs. | Car seat weight: 9.9 lbs. | Car seat capacity: 4 to 35 lbs. | Car seat height limit: 32"

“When baby fell asleep in the car seat I was able to detach the other seat and place the car seat right inside!”

Best versatile car seat and stroller combo

• Six configurations
• Lightweight stroller frame
• No adapters needed
• Handlebar isn’t adjustable

The Evenflo PivotSuite travel system is a super-versatile option for modern family life. It offers six modes of travel: infant car seat mode, lay-flat carriage mode and toddler seat mode, each with a forward- and rear-facing option. Our product tester was a big fan of the carriage configuration saying “my baby felt safe and snug in the bassinet and it seemed to do well over bumps too in that position.” A particularly cool feature is the Pivot's built-in adapter that allows you to transition from infant mode to a toddler seat with a simple flip motion, no extra parts or tools required. Our tester vouched for the ease of switching modes and said: “The stroller is super easy to convert from a normal toddler seat, to reclining, to the bassinet option.” Plus, it can be folded in parent or forward-facing mode with the toddler seat still attached. (Trust us, this is a major win!) Meanwhile, the included Litemax car seat has an anti-rebound bar for baby’s safety as well as an easy to grip carry handle.

Dimensions (open): 39" (L) x 25.8" (W) x 40.5" (H) | Dimensions (folded): 19.5" (L) x 26" (W) x 40" (H) | Stroller weight: 26.8 lbs. | Stroller capacity: 55 lbs. | Car seat weight: 8.7 lbs. | Car seat capacity: 35 lbs. | Car seat height limit: 32"

“Having a car seat that is easily attached to the stroller frame is such a great feature and the stroller itself is worth the money in my opinion, it's a great stroller with so many cool features.”

Best lightweight car seat and stroller combo

• Lightweight design
• One-handed fold and unfold
• Auto-recline feature
• Lower height and weight limit than other options

Nuna TRVL Stroller weighs under 14 pounds, making it one of the lighter options on the market. It comes with the PIPA urbn car seat, which at 7.6 pounds won’t add much weight to the system. Aside from being lightweight, this pick earned a spot among the best car seat and stroller combos thanks to its impeccable steering system and baseless car seat attachment. As the name suggests, the TRVL is a travel-friendly stroller that’s incredibly compact and portable. One-handed steering provides exceptional maneuverability, and as our product tester put it “this baby GLIDES!” Meanwhile, a self-guiding magnetic buckle on the five-point harness makes it easy to safely strap your little one in. But the clever features don’t stop there. The PIPA urbn is the only baseless infant car seat with pipaFIX rigid latch that can install in two seconds flat, and it’s feather-light to boot. This was a huge bonus for our product tester “because it takes the hassle out of switching vehicles,” especially if you’re a two car family. Aside from the top-notch safety features and practical design, this travel system looks and feels luxurious. According to our tester, “the leather really makes it look sleek and high-end” and the neutral color palette was an added bonus. Sounds like a winner to us.

Dimensions (open): 32.5" (L) x 20.25" (W) x 44" (H) | Dimensions (folded): 24" (L) x 20.2" (W) x 11" (H) | Stroller weight: 13.6 lbs. | Stroller capacity: 50 lbs. | Car seat weight: 7.6 lbs. | Car seat capacity: 4 to 22 lbs. | Car seat height limit: 29"

“I would most certainly recommend this travel system for the storage space alone! But also for the convenience.”

Best budget-friendly car seat and stroller combo

• One-hand standing fold
• Car seat clicks into place
• Cup-holder and parent tray
• Plastic tires

Searching for the best car seat and stroller combo on a budget? Look no further than the FastAction Fold Sport Click Connect by Graco . Lightweight yet sturdy, the stroller can be folded with a single hand in one second flat. A lockable front wheel makes it easy to maneuver through crowded streets and the compact frame meets Disney size requirements. It also has a cushy reclining seat, a roomy storage basket and an expandable sun canopy with a peekaboo window. The travel system comes with the SnugRide Click Connect 35 infant car seat that clicks onto the stroller frame in one simple step, no adapters needed! The car seat has a removable infant body support that cradles your baby's head and neck for added comfort and safety. It also weighs less than 8 pounds and the base is super-easy to install in your car thanks to a nifty level indicator.. All that for under $350? Bargain.

Dimensions (open): 40" (L) x 25" (W) x 42" (H) | Dimensions (folded): 16" (L) x 25" (W) x 28" (H) | Stroller weight: 21.4 lbs. | Stroller capacity: 50 lbs. | Car seat weight: 7.5 lbs. | Car seat capacity: 4 to 35 lbs. | Car seat height limit: 32"

Best jogging car seat and stroller system

• Air-filled tires
• Adjustable handlebar
• Car seat snaps into place without adapters
• No cup-holder

The BOB Gear Revolution Flex 3.0 Travel System is a great option for fitness-loving parents. The stroller features mountain-bike-style suspension and air-filled tires that glide over gravel, grass, running trails and uneven pavement. It may be streamlined but this design doesn’t skimp on storage, the stroller has six pockets (including a spot for your cell phone) and a roomy cargo basket underneath the seat. The bundle includes the Britax B-Safe Gen2 Infant Car Seat that slides into place on the frame and is easily removed using the one-press release lever. The car seat employs SafeCell technology, which acts as a crumple zone absorbing crash energy away from your little passenger. A UPF 50+ canopy keeps them shielded from the elements while you stroll. And the base can be installed in your vehicle in three simple steps. Keep in mind that, as with all jogging strollers , you won’t be able to actually run with baby until they’re able to sit in the regular stroller seat.

Dimensions (open): 46" (L) x 25" (W) x 45" (H) | Dimensions (folded): 38" (L) x 25" (W) x 16" (H) | Stroller weight: 28 lbs. | Stroller capacity: 75 lbs. | Car seat weight: 10.9 lbs. | Car seat capacity: 4 to 35 lbs. | Car seat height limit: 32"

Best all-terrain car seat and stroller system

• All-wheel suspension
• Car seat has anti-rebound bar
• Accessories sold separately

The best car seat and stroller combo is often one that meets your individual needs. So if you like to wander off the beaten track, you’re going to need an all-terrain transport system. Introducing the City Mini GT2 by Baby Jogger: A travel system that meets the mark in terms of safety and performance. Forever-air rubber tires will never go flat and all-wheel suspension provides a smooth ride over any terrain. While an adjustable handlebar and hand-operated parking brake make it easy to push and steer. A reclining seat and an adaptable calf support panel also offer an added layer of comfort for your little one, so they can sit back and enjoy the ride. The stroller frame comes with the City GO 2 Infant Car Seat, which easily clicks into place and can be installed in any car, even without a car seat base, thanks to the taxi-safe belt path. Perfect for country living or urban life, this stroller-car seat combo is one of the best out there.

Dimensions (open): 41.3" (L) x 25.6" (W) x 43.1" (H) | Dimensions (folded): 10" (L) x 25.5" (W) x 31.8" (H) | Stroller weight: 22.4 lbs. | Stroller capacity: 65 lbs. | Car seat weight: 10.6 lbs. | Car seat capacity: 4 to 35 lbs. | Car seat height limit: 32"

Best hybrid car seat and stroller combo

• Incredibly lightweight
• Built-in car seat
• Low weight limit
• Not suitable for tough terrain

Last up on our list of the best stroller-car seat combos is a hybrid option by Doona. The all-in-one travel system is the first (and only) infant car seat that converts to a stroller with the press of a button. Once activated integrated wheels pop out of the base and the carry handle flips up to function as a handlebar. Genius! Initially unsure, our product tester did a complete 180 after taking the Doona for a spin: “At first I was concerned about how this was going to work because it’s a two in one. But I was very surprised at how efficient it was.” Lightweight and compact, this pick is certified for air travel and in car-seat mode it can be used with or without the LATCH base. The best part? You can switch to stroller mode without having to unbuckle baby from the car seat.

Dimensions (open): 17.4" (L) x 32.3" (W) x 39" (H) | Dimensions (folded): 17.4" (L) x 26" (W) x 22.4" (H) | Stroller weight: 17.2 lbs. | Stroller capacity: 35 lbs.| Car seat weight: N/A | Car seat capacity: 35 lbs. | Car seat height limit: 32"

“I really loved how easy it was to take my baby out and put him back into the seat. The harness is very easy to adjust the height and tighten; he feels and looks very comfortable.”

How We Chose the Best Stroller Car Seat Combos

We get it—parenting requires a lot of gear, and it can be hard to find the best fit for your family. To streamline your decision-making process, The Bump editors did extensive research, leveraging our familiarity with leading baby brands and relying on our own experiences as parents, narrowing the field to only the most popular, reliable and innovative stroller-car seat combos available today. We read user reviews to get the low-down on how these products work for families, and typically don’t consider anything with less than an average four-star rating. With the help of real parents, we also tested a selection of travel systems and assessed them for ease of use, adaptability, value for money and, of course, safety.

We also follow the safety recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics and look for certifications and seals of approval from key organizations, such as JPMA. Interested in learning more about our editorial process? Read about how our team develops and reviews all articles here .

Plus, more from The Bump:

The Best Strollers

Your Age-by-Age Guide to Strollers: What to Get When

Best Infant Car Seats

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Best travel stroller 2024: lightweight buggies for holidays

The best travel strollers are lightweight, compact and easily maneuverable here are our top picks

• 1. Best overall
• 2. Best flexible option
• 3. Best lightweight option
• 4. Best adaptable option
• 5. Best compact option
• 6. Best small option
• 7. Best affordable option
• 8. Best comfortable option
• 9. How we test

The best travel strollers are essential for long flights and trips away. If you’ve ever tried to cram a large pram into a car boot or stash a pushchair on a plane, you know exactly how important they are! Your child may only be in a pushchair for a few short years, but if you have one that’s heavy, awkward and cumbersome, it can feel like an eternity.

Whether you’re an aspiring jetsetter or simply like to have a buggy at the ready, a quality lightweight travel stroller that’s compact and easy to maneuver is a must (as well as one that’s comfortable for a baby or toddler…of course). Lightweight buggies come into their own for trips around town (when your child decides to walk you can push them one-handed), for journeys on public transport and of course, on holiday… especially if you’re flying or hiring a small car.

Of course, if you're planning on travelling soon you'll want to make sure you're using the  best suitcase or the best carry-on luggage , but for the best travel strollers, keep reading for our top picks to buy today.

Lizzie is T3's Home Staff Writer, also covering style, living and wellness. She works closely with Bethan Girdler-Maslen, T3's Home Editor, ensuring all the latest Home news, trends and recommendations are covered. Outside of T3, Lizzie can be found mooching around Bath, attempting (or at least trying to) a new DIY project or spending time with family and friends.

The top three

The best overall travel stroller 

The BABYZEN YOYO2 is a lightweight pushchair perfect for frequent users, especially as it’s one of the more comfortable and study designs with lots of extras. 

Read more below

The best flexible travel stroller

The Silver Cross Zest folds into a long, thin shape, making it perhaps more preferable for driving holidays than flying…at least not for stashing in the cabin. Coming in at a diminutive 5.8kg, this stroller isn’t the cheapest, but we bet you’ll use it way beyond your holiday.

The best lightweight travel stroller

If you’re in the market for a lightweight holiday buggy or an extra for short trips around town, Joie’s Pact Lite ticks lots of boxes. At 5.5kg, it’s both physically and financially lightweight.

Best travel stroller 2024 ranking

Why you can trust T3 Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test .

The best travel stroller overall

1. BABYZEN YOYO2

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

The BABYZEN YOYO2 is a lightweight pushchair perfect for frequent users, as it’s one of the more comfortable and study designs with lots of extras. It weighs 6.2kg, which is pretty light, but more featherweight alternatives are out there. Designed for city living and everyday errands, it’s suitable for children from six months and up to a maximum weight of 22kg, is designed to by comfy, with a removable and washable seat pad and 5-point harness, 4-wheel suspension and multi-position reclining seat for dreamy naps. 

Parents will like that it’s one-hand folding, unfolding and driving capabilities, shoulder strap and shopping basket and for holiday makers, this one comes with a UPF 50+ sun protection canopy and fits into most overhead plane storage when folded (H52 x W44 x D18cm).

• Back to the top ⤴

2. Silver Cross Zest

The Silver Cross Zest folds into a long, thin shape, making it perhaps more preferable for driving holidays than flying…at least not for stashing in the cabin. Unlike some travel buggies, this one if built to last, including accommodating toddlers up to 25kg, who can get incredibly tired and grumpy about walking anywhere. The seat is padded but roomy and reclinable in a few positions, and there’s a 5-point safety harness as you would expect. A fully extendable ventilated UPF50+ hood, rain cover and basket has got you covered in all conditions, while the aluminium chassis helps the Zest weigh in at a diminutive 5.8kg. This stroller isn’t the cheapest, but we bet you’ll use it way beyond your holiday.

3. Joie Aire Pact Lite

If you’re in the market for a lightweight holiday buggy or an extra for short trips around town, Joie’s Pact Lite ticks lots of boxes. The forward-facing pushchair has a flat reclining seat that can be used from birth (technically) but lots of parents like parent-facing buggies at the beginning. That aside, the buggy reclines flat and has other reclining positions to keep napping youngsters comfy, and has an extendable canopy with visor for protection from the elements as well as all-wheel suspension. The Pact Lite is Joie's easiest, quickest and most compact folding chassis and comes with a carry strap for easy travelling. One handed fold, it’s designed to be free standing for easy storage – a godsend if you have a small hallway or use public transport. And at 5.5kg it’s both physically and financially lightweight.

The best adaptable travel stroller

4. Silver Cross Jet

The Jet ultra-compact stroller weighs in at 5.9kg and folds small enough to be a piece of cabin luggage at 90cm x 45cm x 96cm and can even be wheeled along like a little suitcase. It has an ergonomic seat for better baby comfort, with wider front wheels and improved suspension providing the best ride yet. The standout design features softly textured weave fabrics, with a tan leatherette handle and bumper bar and stylish matt black chassis. Suitable from birth up to 15kg, Jet has a soft padded lie-flat seat, multi-position recline and adjustable calf support to keep babies and toddlers comfortable, as well as a fully extendable UPF50+ hood with an air-flow ventilation system and pop-out sun visor to keep them cool and safe. The flip-flop-friendly brakes are easy to use, while the lockable front swivel wheels and suspension provide a smooth ride for baby. It’s not the cheapest option for a short holiday, but with so many features it would be handy option for short trips at home too.

The best compact travel stroller

5. Ickle Bubba Globe Ultra Compact Travel Stroller

Ickle Bubba’s Globe is designed for tiny travellers who like first class touches, like leatherette handles and an adjustable leg rest. Weighing in at 6.4kg and costing not-too-much, it’s a good middle-of-the-road package an folds to a dinky 45 x 55 x 25cm, making it easy to stash in overhead lockers on planes and trains. Like other offerings, the stroller is travel system compatible (meaning you can buy into the brand), and it has lots of room for holiday souvenirs, with a storage basket and handy pouch for essential items. A hood viewing window means you can keep an eye on your little one without disturbing them, while a full length protective rain over has got you covered for all weather scenarios. There’s a one handed 3 position seat recline feature and front and rear suspension for a smoother ride for toddlers, as well as a large extendable UPF 50 hood to protect from harmful sun rays and ventilated roll up fabrics to keep them cool, making the stroller a great choice is you’re holidaying somewhere sunny.

The best small travel stroller

6. GB Pockit+ Stroller

If you’re after a lightweight stroller, why not choose the most compact out there? The lightweight gb Gold Pockit+ is the world's smallest folding stroller, which in only two steps can fold into a 34 x 20 x 42 cm handbag-shaped package. With the ability to switch from pushing to carrying in seconds, the Pockit is travel stroller perfect for places with lots of steps, or can be easily stashed on a boat, bus, or the corner of an atmospheric café, plus it’s free-standing. Despite its size, the buggy is suitable for kids from 6 months to 17kg (approx. 4 years). It’s well priced, but you’ll need to buy extras like a sub shield or rain cover.

The best affordable travel stroller

7. Red Kite Baby Push Me 2U

If you only want a buggy for one holiday you don’t want to spend much, this is where Red Kite’s Baby Push Me 2U stroller comes in. It’s cheaper than a round of all-day breakfasts at the airport and has a surprising number of handy features despite its bargain status. Suitable from 6 months, the buggy offers two positions to sit or lie back, lockable swivel wheels and a removable canopy which is handy if you’re going somewhere sunny. There’s also a shopping basket and rain cover for all eventualities. At 5.6kg the buggy isn’t the lightest out there, but it does boast an extra deep seat, which is brilliant for older babies and toddlers who fancy a break from all that arduous walking.

The best comfortable travel stroller

8. Chicco Echo

Chicco is a trusted brand and its Echo stroller offers plenty of comfort and decent looks for less than £70/$100. Compared to other budget options, this buggy shows attention to detail, with an embroidered seat and ritzy wheels as well as a fully reclining backrest with four options and an adjustable leg rest to make sure your bundle of joy is comfortable. At 8.5kg this stroller isn’t the lightest of travel buggies, but it is one of the better-looking options. Suitable from birth to 22kgs, and is very affordable, giving it longevity and plenty of bang for its buck.

How we test

There are more lightweight and compact buggies than ever that are designed to make navigating customs (and most important Duty-Free) a breeze, while being easy to fold and stow in the hold, or even squeezed into the overhead lockers, without breaking into the sort of sweat you’d expect from an adventure holiday somewhere on the equator. 

Unfortunately, we can't always take every single one on holiday to see how they perform (unless someone wants to start a GoFundMe for us and this vital research), but we can test them out in more everyday situations.

We'll test these travel strollers on trips to the supermarket, shopping centre, and city centres, some of the most demanding and stressful locations known to parenthood. This, of course, involves taking the strollers on trains, buses and cars, so it does give us a great idea of how they perform. We'll also check if they're easy to fold, if they're comfortable for baby, and how practical they are.

How to choose the best travel strollers

Weight vs comfort: Like sports cars, some pushchairs are as light as possible at the cost of creature comforts and one that’s super stripped-back may not suit everyone. So consider how much padding your little one likes (especially if they’re a light sleeper) as well as features like whether the pushchair is parent or world-facing (not all buggies are both) and whether they have multiple reclining positions. If your child likes a little nap on the go, you will not want a buggy that doesn’t recline!

Age: It sounds obvious, but it’s important to consider whether lightweight buggies are suitable for the age of your baby. Some with less padding are only designed for babies aged six months or one or over, for example.

The weather: If you’re buying a light buggy for use in the UK, you’re going to want a rain cover and a sun cover (well, if you’re feeling optimistic). Not all buggies, especially the lightweight ones, come with rain covers, and they can cost quite a lot, so it’s worth noticing whether they come fitted as standard when budgeting. Similarly, the very lightest designs can sometimes have no hood or sun canopy, or one that’s incredibly small. So if you’re shopping for a light buggy for a holiday in the sun, this is a factor that you’ll want to look at carefully. 

Parental extras: Lightweight buggies seldom come with extras like cup holders but you might want to check the size and sturdiness of a buggy’s shopping basket as this can be a curse or saviour if you use a buggy frequently. 

Size: As well as being light, some buggies are designed to fold up incredibly small. This is great if you’re a frequent flier, use public transport or have a small car, but this feature can make some models more expensive, so if you’re not bothered, you might want to pass. Similarly, folding mechanisms vary massively, and you need to find one that’s easy for you and suitable for your needs. If you can, we recommend trying before you buy.

Vanity: Like with cars, sometimes looks matter almost as much as practicality. Some buggies look better than others and come in a rainbow of colours. So whether you want a fun one for a holiday vibe or have a favourite colour, you may as well pick one you like the look of as you’ll probably be using it a lot.

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Lizzie is T3's Home Staff Writer, also covering style, living and wellness. She works closely with Bethan Girdler-Maslen, T3's Home Editor, ensuring all the latest news, trends and recommendations are covered. Outside of T3, Lizzie can be found mooching around Bath, attempting (or at least trying to) a new DIY project or spending time with family and friends.

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The 8 Best Travel Strollers of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Make your trip comfortable and fun for all with these top picks

In This Article

• Our Top Picks

Final Verdict

Product selection, how we tested.

• Others We Tested
• What To Look For

Frequently Asked Questions

Why trust tripsavvy.

TripSavvy / Conor Ralph

A lightweight, collapsible travel stroller is a must-have accessory for parents on the move. There are many options to choose from, with the right stroller depending on your specific requirements. If you’re planning on traveling locally, a stroller that packs away into the trunk of your car may suffice; but if you're traveling overseas, you may prefer one that complies with airline carry-on restrictions. If you’re buying for a newborn, a fully reclining seat is necessary, while car seat compatibility is another factor.

We tested nearly two dozen strollers in our lab and rated each on their design, portability, maneuverability, durability, and overall value.

Best Overall

Nuna trvl lightweight stroller.

• Design 4.8 /5
• Portability 4.2 /5
• Maneuverability 5 /5
• Durability 5 /5
• Value 4.7 /5

Convenient one-handed fold

Suitable for newborns

Handles a variety of terrain with ease

Potentially unwieldy when removing from overhead bin

Our testers loved this stroller. "It was one of the best, if not the best, in the entire test," one tester concluded. But it's also one of the most expensive. The top marks begin with the fold and unfold, which was easy to do with practice. "Whoa! It folds for you! With alacrity," one tester reported. Our testers also liked smart features including easy and full reclining positions, good ventilation, a mesh window in the canopy, a big storage compartment, and a magnetic strap clasp.

But what really set this one apart from others was the smoothness of its ride. "It glides like a dream on every single surface," a tester reported. "There was no difference between the smooth hardwood and tile and the shag carpet. The gravel was also incredibly easy to maneuver, with little to no jolting or bumping up and down."

The nitpick our testers found was that it wasn't the easiest to fit in the overhead bin space, and our testers were concerned it could flop open when retrieving it at the end of a flight. Sure, this stroller is expensive. But if you've got the budget, this was one of the best of the batch.

Weight: 15.4 pounds | Folded Dimensions: 11 x 27.3 x 20.3 inches | Assembled Dimensions: 41 x 26 x 20.5 inches | Seat Dimensions: 10 x 13 inches

Best Overall Runner-Up

Gb qbit+ all city stroller.

• Portability 4 /5
• Maneuverability 4.9 /5

User friendly

Solid handling

Long lasting

Canopy could be improved

Gb's QBit+ All-City stroller scored nearly as high as the Joolz AER in our lab test but cost less. In particular, the QBit+ did best in our durability, maneuverability, and foldability tests. Folding requires pressing two buttons, but our testers could do it with one hand. "Locking it when unfolding takes a second, but overall it was really good," a tester noted. The QBit+ also passed our maneuverability tests with flying colors. And there was no damage to it during our durability tests.

Our testers noted that while the canopy has coverage and a mesh peekaboo window, it doesn't go down very far. It also didn't score best in our portability test since it did not come with a carrying strap. "We wouldn't want to carry it folded for long periods of time," a tester reported. But, for the cost, our testers thought the QBit+'s other features more than made up for it. "This stroller would be great as a regular stroller—not just for travel," a tester said.

Weight: 17.6 pounds | Folded Dimensions: 10.5 x 23 x 16.5 inches | Assembled Dimensions: 41 x 24 x 17 inches | Seat Dimensions: 9 x 13 inches

Best Budget

Summer infant 3dlite stroller.

• Design 3.5 /5
• Portability 4.5 /5
• Maneuverability 4.6 /5
• Value 3.5 /5

Budget-friendly

Cushioned handlebar

Ample storage space

Not the best for frequent fliers

What's better than a reliable, easy-to-operate, and durable travel stroller? Well, one that checks all these boxes without breaking the bank. The 3Dlite is that stroller. Though a bit bumpy over uneven terrain, it performed quite well in the maneuverability test and suffered no damage despite being dropped multiple times from several heights. A convenient carry handle makes porting around this mid-weight option relatively painless—but you'll have to gate-check it as it didn't fit in our simulated overhead bin.

Our testers would have liked to see improved features, namely a canopy that offers more coverage and a shoulder strap with padding. But, if you won't be traveling by plane much, the 3Dlite is a solid pick that will get the job done.

Weight: 13.6 pounds | Folded Dimensions: 10.5 x 42 x 12 inches | Assembled Dimensions: 43 x 24 x 18 inches | Seat Dimensions: 6 x 13 inches

Best Double

Uppababy g-link v2 stroller.

• Assembly 4.9 /5
• Design 5 /5
• Portability 4.4 /5

Opens and closes well

Solid canopy

Excellent handling

Heavy (somewhat expected in a double)

Some details could be improved

For those with twins, friends, or siblings close in age, our testers like the G-Link V2 Double Stroller best. Our testers liked how easy the fold is, noting it can be done with one hand (although unfolding was a bit tougher). They also liked how easy it was to recline the stroller and that the recline had two positions. It also maneuvered skillfully. "The shag carpet was pretty easy with little drag or resistance," one tester noted. "The gravel impressed me, too; it was relatively smooth and barely bumpy." Another tester liked that there were no wheels in the middle of the frame (like most double umbrella strollers have). "It makes it easier to push without kicking the wheels or frame," they noted.

While our testers reported they'd liked to have seen windows in the canopy and pads on the shoulder straps, overall, they scored this stroller very well.

Weight: 21.8 pounds | Folded Dimensions: 14 x 40 x 17.5 inches | Assembled Dimensions: 41 x 25 x 28.3 inches | Seat Dimensions: 10 x 11 inches

Best Sun Shade

Uppababy g-luxe stroller.

• Design 4.5 /5
• Portability 3.9 /5
• Maneuverability 4.7 /5
• Value 4.5 /5

Solid portability

Loaded with functional extras

Supports itself in the collapsed position

Operating takes practice

Not great for packing into small places

An adequate sunshade is an important feature for many caregivers. The G-Luxe stroller offers loads of extra shade with its oversized canopy. But that's not the only feature our testers loved about this stroller. They also enjoyed the large cupholder, which fits travel mugs; how easily the footrest worked; the location of the pocket behind the seat; its padding; and the five-point harness with an adjustable shoulder strap.

Folding was a bit tricky and annoying at first with a handle and ring combo, but once you get it, the folding is smooth, our testers reported. While the stroller wasn't very small when folded, our testers did like the strap. "It feels light when you sling the strap over your shoulder, and it's nice that it will leave your hands free to carry more things," one tester noted. It performed well in the maneuverability test. Bonus: This stroller can stand on its own when folded.

Weight: 16.5 pounds | Folded Dimensions: 15 x 41 x 11.8 inches | Assembled Dimensions: 42.5 x 23.5 x 18.5 inches | Seat Dimensions: 9 x 11 inches

Best Lightweight

Kolcraft cloud plus stroller.

• Design 3.9 /5
• Portability 3 /5
• Maneuverability 4.2 /5
• Durability 4.5 /5
• Value 4.8 /5

Works well (once you figure it out)

Only option with a tray

Portability is not great

If you're looking for a lightweight budget option, we like the Kolcraft Cloud Plus for its foldability, durability, and overall value. You're not going to get all the bells and whistles with this stroller. But you will get a functional item at a much more reasonable price than others on this list. Our testers liked how easy it was to fold and unfold, noting that this could be achieved with one hand (with some strength and coordination). The Kolcraft didn't have the smoothest ride, but our testers could push it through gravel even if the wheels stopped spinning because of its lightness.

You will sacrifice a few things with this option—mainly portability. While the stroller is one of the lightest we tested, it does not come with a case, strap, or handle. It also didn't fold down small enough to put in an overhead bin, meaning you'll need to check it at the gate if you fly with it, but our testers were impressed with the durability of the stroller. Overall, we view this as the Honda Accord of the batch. Does it have the performance and features of the more expensive models on this list? No. Is it great value, and will it get you—and, more importantly, your little one—from location A to B? Absolutely.

Weight: 11.8 pounds | Folded Dimensions: 10 x 33 x 17.5 inches | Assembled Dimensions: 38 x 27 x 18 inches | Seat Dimensions: 9 x 13 inches

Most Maneuverable

Baby jogger city tour 2 stroller.

• Maneuverability 4.8 /5

Comfort features for the rider

Great value for its cost

Not as convenient for air travel

Our testers raved about the maneuverability of the City Tour 2. "The maneuverability on the Baby Jogger is exceptional," one tester said. "There was little perceptible difference between shag carpet and smooth wood and tile surfaces. And while other strollers struggled a bit on the gravel, this stroller navigated it with ease."

While the maneuverability of this one is stellar, there's a lot more to it than just that. The folding and unfolding were relatively easy. Our testers loved the recline, structure, and padding. They also liked small touches like extra legroom and adjustable calf support. While the storage space was minimal and there was no cupholder, our testers liked the functionality of the canopy and that it has a window.

One issue: It didn't fit in the overhead bin space, so checking it at the gate is necessary. But overall, our testers thought it was a solid performer for the stroller's price.

Weight: 14.5 pounds | Folded Dimensions: 7 x 22.5 x 19.5 inches | Assembled Dimensions: 40 x 26 x 20 inches | Seat Dimensions: 9 x 13 inches

Best Portability

Babyzen yoyo2 stroller frame.

• Design 4.4 /5
• Portability 5 /5

Excellent padding

Easy to stow

Solid over rough terrain

Not intuitive for folding and unfolding

For the best portability, our testers liked the Babyzen Yoyo2. It's not the lightest stroller we tested (but it's on the lighter side). And it's not the most compact (but it's close). But its compact size, relatively lightweight, plush and comfy shoulder strap, and metal bar handle combined to make this the overall best for portability.

Our testers also liked the canopy window, back pocket, basket underneath for boosted storage, and how easily it fits in the overhead bin space. They also liked how well it was handled. "There was minor resistance on the gravel, but it was smoother than many other strollers over the bumpier surface," one tester noted. "It maneuvers well for back and forth and changing directions."

Weight: 14.7 pounds | Folded Dimensions: 8 x 20 x 16 inches | Assembled Dimensions: 41 x 28.8 x 17 inches | Seat Dimensions: 9.5 x 12.5 inches

To make traveling as seamless as possible with a young companion, you'll want a travel stroller that's easy to fold and unfold, carries comfortably from place to place, and handles well over various surfaces. The Nuna Trvl Lightweight Stroller has all this plus top-notch durability. If you're looking for something affordable and lightweight, we also recommend the Kolcraft Cloud Plus Stroller .

Our editors and testers tapped into prior knowledge of strollers and stroller brands and conducted internet research to select products. Once a group of products was set, we whittled the list down based on the strengths and price of each stroller to get a range of functions and price points.

All products mentioned in this roundup were tested in our Brooklyn, New York lab. Products were tested for the following attributes: folding/unfolding, design, portability, maneuverability, and overall value. We also weighed and measured each stroller.

We followed the instructions to fold and lock each stroller and then unfold it. We rated it based on how easy these actions were and if they could be achieved with one hand. The design was ranked based on the stroller's extra features and how well (or not) those features worked. We were looking for things like adjustable handle heights, reclining positions, storage space, and canopies, among other things.

For portability, we folded each stroller into its most compact state and carried it around our testing lab, up and down stairs. We also created a simulated overhead bin space using a baker's rack. Maneuverability was tested with a traffic cone obstacle course in our lab and on different surfaces including hardwood, tile, shag carpet, fake grass, and gravel.

Durability was tested by dropping the folded strollers from waist height and from on top of a table. Lastly, the overall value was rated based on the cost of the stroller and how it performed in the tests compared to others.

Other Travel Strollers We Tested

Doona : We liked that this was the one stroller tested that also works as a car seat. It also performed very well in the maneuverability test, as one tester noted being able to maneuver through the cones one-handed. However, it was tough to fold and unfold (we had to watch a video to figure it out). Overall, our testers concluded that it was a specific product, and while it was good, it wasn't great enough to make our top picks.

Cybex Libelle Stroller : The Cybex Libelle Stroller was another good, just not great performer. It was fine in our tested categories and will get the job done. Our testers just liked the other ones listed above better. Our testers particularly liked how easy it was to fold and unfold.

Jeep Scout Double : Folding the Jeep Scout Double was not intuitive and took some figuring out. "Once you get used to it, it does get easier, but it's not very intuitive," concluded one tester. While this one falls into the budget range, our testers didn't care for it.

Mountain Buggy Nano V3 Stroller : The Mountain Buggy Nano V3 Stroller was lightweight and compact. It also did well in the maneuverability test on turns and with one hand. But this one had some quirks, like a reverse folding canopy and an unfolding process that was counterintuitive enough to keep it off our favorites list.

Jovial Portable Folding Stroller : Overall, the Jovial Portable Folding Stroller wasn't a super strong performer in our lab tests. It did fine—just nothing to put it over the top. The folding and unfolding took some effort. The handlebar was a bit low, and the canopy felt somewhat flimsy. And it struggled on the gravel during our maneuverability test.

Ergobaby Metro+ Compact Stroller : Waking a sleeping baby is a big no-no. And while the Ergobaby Metro+ Compact Stroller had some features our testers liked (folding and unfolding, excellent maneuverability, and good reclining), it was loud, particularly the canopy. "It just didn't impress across the board for the price," one tester concluded.

Colugo The Compact Stroller : The Colugo Compact Stroller checked many boxes. It can be folded and unfolded with one hand. It has padded shoulder straps. And it was pretty good at maneuvering and handling turns. But it performed poorly on gravel. And the buckles for the straps hurt our testers' hands. Plus, the canopy's performance deteriorated throughout the test.

What to Look For in Travel Strollers

If you're buying a travel stroller, you're after one that'll be lighter and more compact than your everyday model. Look for high-tech materials that are sturdy without adding extra weight. You'll find materials such as aluminum, polyester, and plastic are popular. Anything less than 15 pounds for an individual model is an excellent place to start, which applies to all the picks on our list. Fully collapsible models can be carried on board airlines, and weight restrictions for these are uncommon but not entirely nonexistent. Check your airline's requirements and restrictions before your trip.

A comfortable child on vacation is a happy child on vacation—so you'll want a stroller that will keep your child at ease during long days of sightseeing and exploring. Look for reclining seats, adjustable canopies, and padded harnesses. Keep in mind that features that add comfort often add weight. Consider a more minimalist design if you're planning to use a travel stroller primarily to get from point A to B or will be loading and unloading frequently. On the other hand, if you're road-tripping to natural or attraction parks , you and your little rider will appreciate those added comfort items.

Extra Features

Sure, you can go bare-bones with a stroller that's little more than a nylon sling chair on wheels, but you may also want features like cup holders or a rack underneath to hold larger bags. Your ideal travel stroller fits the specific needs of your family and the type of trip you have in mind. That extra storage space could save you from carrying another bag or two, which could turn a potentially stressful event into a relaxing and fun outing, depending on where you're headed.

The best travel stroller to take on a plane is one that fits in the overhead bin space, is lightweight, and is one that you feel comfortable using. When in doubt, check the folded dimensions of the stroller, matching it with the overhead bin space of the plane you'll be flying on.

You don't need a separate travel stroller. But if you do a lot of traveling—whether that's flights or road trips with your kids —we recommend having a travel-specific stroller. Many of the ones we suggested could double as your everyday stroller.

Jess Macdonald is a travel expert and has been writing for TripSavvy since 2016. She has honed her skills as a freelance writer specializing in travel, scuba diving, and wildlife conservation. She's also a mom of two who has traveled extensively (both at home and overseas) with her kids.

Nathan Allen is the Outdoor Gear Editor at TripSavvy. While not a parent himself, he's learned the importance of having a good travel stroller after spending a month road-tripping the Western US and Midwest with his four-month-old niece.

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The 7 best travel strollers, according to parents who use them.

A quality travel stroller makes a world of difference when traveling with little ones.

The Best Travel Strollers

Courtesy of Joolz

The Joolz Aer is the best overall travel stroller on the market.

When traveling with babies and toddlers , having the right gear – especially an easy-to-maneuver travel stroller – is essential. If you're in the market for a stroller you can take on the plane, train and beyond, read on to find the best option for your family as recommended by parents.

The Top Travel Strollers of 2023

Best overall travel stroller: joolz aer, best umbrella stroller for travel: uppababy minu v2, best double stroller for travel: uppababy g-link 2, best travel stroller for big kids: evenflo pivot xplore all-terrain stroller wagon, best travel stroller for infants: doona car seat & stroller, best travel system stroller: nuna trvl stroller, best budget travel stroller: summer 3dlite convenience stroller.

Looking for more information on how to select your ideal travel stroller? Consult the FAQ section at the bottom of this page.

(Note: All stroller dimensions are listed in order of length by width by height.)

Folded dimensions: 21 x 17.7 x 8.5 inches Stroller weight: 13.4 pounds Minimum child age: 6 months Maximum child weight: 50 pounds

When it comes to quality travel strollers, the Joolz Aer is the best investment you can make. Not only does this stroller's lightweight and compact design make it easy to store in the overhead compartment of a plane, but it also opens and closes with a one-handed motion – an essential feature for multitasking parents. Little ones travel comfortably and safely thanks to a five-point harness, extended seatback and adjustable recline, as well as a rain cover. Available in six modern colors – from sage green to taupe – the Joolz Aer also comes with a stroller bag. Parents rave about this travel stroller, with some noting they prefer it to the highly rated BABYZEN YOYO2.

The Joolz Aer is designed for babies 6 months and older; it can be used from birth with select infant car seats, secured by a car seat adaptor you'll need to purchase separately.

Price: $449 or less Shop now: Amazon | buy buy Baby | Nordstrom | Joolz

Courtesy of UPPAbaby

Folded dimensions: 12.5 x 20.3 x 23 inches Stroller weight: 16.9 pounds Minimum child age: 3 months Maximum child weight: 50 pounds

If you're looking for an umbrella-style stroller for travel, consider the UPPAbaby MINU. Its latest model, the V2, features a swift, one-handed setup; a five-point harness; an adjustable recline and foot rest; an extendable canopy with UPF 50+ protection; and a vented peekaboo window. It's also equipped with a generously sized storage basket that can hold up to 20 pounds of additional items. While the MINU is recommended for babies at least 3 months old, you can use this even sooner with UPPAbaby's Mesa Infant Car Seat and adaptors, or with adaptors for other car seats.

Terry Ward, a Florida-based travel writer and co-founder of Florida Beyond , still raves about this travel stroller, which her kids recently outgrew. "I loved the MINU so much that it became my go-to stroller at home, too," she says, adding that it has a great resale value. "I sold it for more than half of what I bought it for after three years – these strollers are really in demand."

The UPPAbaby MINU V2 is available in five color variations and features a stylish full-grain leather bumper bar and handlebar.

Price: $449.99 or less Shop now: buy buy Baby | UPPAbaby

Folded dimensions: 40 x 20 x 14.5 inches Stroller weight: 22.3 pounds Minimum child age: 3 months Maximum child weight: 55 pounds per seat

If you have twins or two stroller-age kiddos and need a tandem stroller for travel, the UPPAbaby G-LINK 2 is a solid choice. Available in charcoal and black, this highly rated double stroller offers two UPF 50+ canopies and independent, multiposition reclining seats. Like the UPPAbaby MINU, this one is a cinch to set up and maneuver, and it features an easy-to-access storage basket that accommodates up to 10 pounds. There's also a sturdy cup holder for that must-have caffeine boost.

Reviewers note that the G-LINK 2 is surprisingly compact given its double capacity, and that it's also ideal for tall toddlers.

Price: $349.99 or less Shop now: Amazon | buy buy Baby | UPPAbaby

Courtesy of Evenflo

Folded dimensions: 23 x 27.5 x 37.5 inches Stroller weight: 34.7 pounds Minimum child age: 6 months Maximum child weight: 55 pounds per seat

Another great travel stroller for two kids or older kids (up to age 5) is the Evenflo Pivot Xplore All-Terrain Stroller Wagon, which has two seats and can be used as a wagon or a stroller depending on your needs and destination. Its all-terrain wheels make it ideal for navigating any landscape – from cobblestone streets to sandy beaches – and a large storage basket and cup holders allow you to easily pack additional travel necessities. "It's basically a portable U-Haul for anything else you're dragging along," says Ward, who upgraded to the Xplore when her kids outgrew the UPPAbaby MINU. It also has an adjustable canopy for protection from the elements.

Price: $399.99 or less Shop now: Amazon | buy buy Baby | Evenflo | Target

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Courtesy of Doona

Folded dimensions: 23.6 x 17.3 x 26 inches Stroller weight: 17.2 pounds Minimum child age: None; can be used from birth with infant insert Maximum child weight: 35 pounds

When it comes to travel strollers, nothing quite compares to the Doona Car Seat & Stroller, which is exactly what it sounds like: a (genius) car seat and stroller in one. Aside from its magical ability to transform from a car seat to a stroller and vice versa in seconds, this travel stroller features a five-point harness, an adjustable handlebar and removable textiles for easy (inevitable) washing. It is Federal Aviation Administration aircraft-approved to fit in most overhead bins and comes in a variety of colors.

Angela Burks of La Vida Mom loves how easy it is to travel with the Doona Car Seat & Stroller. "I like that I don't have to worry about getting an additional car seat for a car service or rental when I arrive at the airport," she says. Another bonus? It doesn't require a car seat base.

The only downsides of this travel stroller are that your child will outgrow it when they hit 35 pounds in weight and/or 32 inches in height, and its hefty price tag given these limitations.

Price: $550.99 or less Shop now: Amazon | Doona | Target

Getty Images

Folded dimensions: 24 x 20.25 x 11 inches (without arm bar) Stroller weight: 13.6 pounds (without canopy and arm bar) Minimum child age: None; can be used from birth with infant car seat Maximum child weight: 50 pounds

If you're looking for a travel system stroller that'll grow with your baby, you can't beat the Nuna TRVL Stroller. The Nuna PIPA series car seat clicks right into the stroller – no adaptors necessary – and can then be removed when your little one is old enough to sit upright in the stroller seat. This luxury stroller features a five-point harness with magnetic technology, a multiposition reclining seat, adjustable calf support, a removable and adjustable arm bar, and a UPF 50+ canopy. Like some of the other travel strollers on this list, this product easily opens and closes with a one-handed motion and comes with a carrying bag. It is also certified GREENGUARD Gold and free of harmful chemicals.

Price: $500 or less Shop now: Nordstrom | Nuna

Courtesy of Summer

Folded dimensions: 42 x 11.5 x 12.5 inches Stroller weight: 13 pounds Minimum child age: 6 months Maximum child weight: 50 pounds

You get what you pay for in many situations, but parents say they're impressed with the Summer 3Dlite Convenience Stroller given its cheap price tag, noting it has seamlessly navigated bumpy streets in Europe , Disney theme parks and other family vacation destinations. This easy-to-assemble travel stroller features a carry strap (useful for schlepping it when not in use), five-point safety harness, four reclining positions, and an adjustable and removable canopy. It also has a storage basket and cup holder, and comes in four colors.

Price: $99.99 or less Shop now: Amazon | Walmart | Summer

[Read: The Top Kids Luggage .]

How to travel with a stroller and car seat

Perhaps the easiest way to travel with a stroller and car seat is to invest in the two-in-one Doona Car Seat & Stroller , which can be used for children up to about 35 pounds and stored in the overhead bin of a plane. However, other travel stroller systems can also ease the burden of all that gear – especially for those traveling with infants. Here's how to travel with a stroller and car seat in the following situations:

If your baby is in an infant car seat: Simply attach a compatible infant car seat to your everyday or travel-specific stroller and wheel your baby through the airport. When you arrive at the gate, check your car seat and stroller free of charge. (Children 2 and younger can fly for free as lap children on most airlines.) If you'd like to purchase a seat for your baby and bring your car seat on the plane – recommended by the FAA and American Academy of Pediatrics – you'll need to ensure it is FAA-compliant . Alternatively, you can wear your baby in a carrier and use the car seat and/or stroller for storage.

If your baby is not in an infant car seat: If your child is somewhere between an infant and a toddler but no longer uses an infant car seat at home, you can technically get by without a car seat since they can ride through the airport in a stroller or carrier and then sit on your lap during the flight if they are younger than 2. However, you'll need to rent or borrow a car seat when you arrive at your destination.

If you have a toddler older than 2: Children are not legally required to have a car seat for air travel, though it's still recommended by the FAA and AAP (and you will likely need one when you get to your final destination anyway). It's easiest to wheel your child in the travel stroller and transport your FAA-compliant car seat by simply carrying it (not preferable, of course) or using one of the following assists:

• Travel cart: Most luggage carts (including the ones offered at the airport) cannot go through security, so look for a foldable travel cart – this one by HÖLM is a good option – that can easily be placed on the security screening belt and then used to transport your belongings to the gate.
• Car seat luggage strap: Strap the car seat to your carry-on bag with a heavy duty luggage strap like this one .
• Car seat backpack: You can free up your hands by wearing a car seat backpack .

If your toddler won't sit in the stroller: Use your stroller as a travel cart instead – strap the car seat and anything else you can get on there. Once you get to the gate, you can either check your car seat (typically free of charge) or bring it with you on board.

Travel Stroller FAQ

Deciding whether you need a travel stroller is an entirely personal decision. Some people are content to travel with the stroller they use at home, while many prefer travel strollers since they are typically less bulky than their everyday counterparts.

No, a stroller can typically be checked at the gate free of charge and picked up on the jet bridge post-flight. It's always best to review your airline's stroller policies before flying, however.

Yes. Simply put it on the X-ray belt with the rest of your belongings.

The Joolz Aer and Doona Car Seat & Stroller can fit in most overhead bins. However, it may be easier to gate check your stroller (typically for free) so you have less to carry on to the plane.

While a stroller bag is not required, it can be useful for protecting your stroller from potential dirt and damage if it needs to be checked at the gate, as well as storing additional items – think: diapers (which can double as extra padding), wipes and other small essentials. Some travel strollers come with a branded stroller bag, but if you'd like a different option, check out these highly rated bags:

• Zohzo Stroller Travel Bag
• J.L. Childress Gate Check Travel Bag
• Gate Check PRO Stroller Bag

Disney World requires that both single and double strollers do not exceed 52 x 31 inches (length by width) when fully assembled. Below are the best strollers for Disney World that meet these requirements (listed with unfolded dimensions in inches):

• Joolz Aer : 32.7 x 17.7
• UPPAbaby MINU V2 : 35.5 x 20.3
• UPPAbaby G-LINK 2 : 27.5 x 28.5
• Doona Car Seat & Stroller : 32.3 x 17.4
• Nuna TRVL Stroller : 32.5 x 20.25
• Summer 3D Lite Convenience Stroller : 27 x 18

The UPPAbaby strollers and Nuna TRVL Stroller are especially ideal for Disney parks since they offer UPF 50+ canopies for protection from the sun. Wagons are prohibited entirely.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Amanda Norcross used her personal experience as a frequently traveling mom, as well as her research skills and conversations with other parents, to determine which travel strollers are truly the best. She first traveled with her infant in a front carrier before transitioning to the Joolz Aer , which she's successfully used on multiple flights with her growing toddler.

You might also be interested in:

• The Top Diaper Bag Backpacks
• How to Get Your Child a Passport
• The Top Cruises for Babies and Toddlers
• The Top All-Inclusive Family Resorts in the World
• The Top Family Travel Insurance

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Tags: Travel , Travel Gear

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• # 4 Bora Bora

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The Best Lightweight Strollers for Travel in 2024

These strollers are perfect for traveling with toddlers and newborns.

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

In order to find the best lightweight strollers, we reviewed over 30 strollers over the course of the past two years. For this update, we also got hands-on with newer variants of previously tested models as well as newer-to-market options.

Our top picks:

Best Overall Lightweight Stroller

Uppababy minu v2 stroller.

Best Value Lightweight Stroller

Summer infant 3dlite convenience stroller.

Best Lightweight Stroller for Travel

Bugaboo butterfly.

Our Lab experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute test every type of baby product you can think of from baby toys to top-performing nursery gliders and high chairs . For most, we rated them for key factors including ease of fold, maneuverability (We run them around a track!), stability (We hang weights from the handles) and storage space (We place the same fully packed diaper bag in each basket to see how it fits.)

Why don't parents start with lightweight strollers? Some do. But consider: A lightweight stroller does not roll as smoothly as something with large wheels and a serious suspension system. If your baby is tiny, they will be less jostled and more cushioned when riding in one of the many great full-size strollers or car seat and stroller combos . As your baby gets bigger, they will be just fine in a smaller, lighter-weight stroller. And when you have a preschooler who wants to hop in and out of their stroller, you'll be grateful to have a lightweight one.

After our picks, stick around to learn more about how we test lightweight strollers in and out of the Lab and what to look for when shopping for one. If you are looking for even more options, check out our roundups of the best strollers for travel and the best portable car seats to improve short and long trips with the little ones.

If you're looking for a lightweight stroller you can use every day for several years, consider this top-of-the-line pick, a recent GH Parenting Awards winner. Despite having small wheels, the MINU V2 is great at handling rougher terrain. That's because it has the shock absorption and all-wheel suspension usually found in full-size strollers. This makes it a little over 15 pounds, but our testers still found it lightweight and easy to carry.

Other features we love for your child's comfort: The canopy zips out to provide lots of shade. The seat does not recline fully but it does lean far enough back for comfortable relaxation. Buy the adaptor and you can even snap the MESA car seat onto this. The footrest is adjustable, which is a nice touch.

Parents will appreciate that the storage basket can hold up to 20 pounds of whatever you need to put in there, though the basket is not particularly large. We found that we could fold the whole stroller with one hand and in one quick motion, so you should be able to do it while holding your baby in your other arm. Plus we're suckers for the real-leather trim at the handle and on the bumper bar, the bar that crosses your baby's lap and lets you hang toys to keep them occupied. While there is no cupholder included, there is a parent pocket you can use to hold your cell phone or your reusable shopping bags.

Some assembly is required, and we particularly got caught up trying to attach the canopy correctly, but we found the manufacturer's videos helpful. The good news is that once it's set up, you're good to go, and the no-rethread harness means this is simple to modify as your kid grows. If you want to check this at the airport, consider the travel bag accessory .

This $100 lightweight pick is also one of our best stroller picks. A carry strap on the back makes it easy to sling this over your shoulder if you have to carry it around , for instance, if your toddler insists on walking. If, on the other hand, your self-proclaimed "big kid" really needs a rest, the seat reclines for them.

The basket is fairly wide and open, but note that it can only hold 10 pounds. Likewise, the canopy has a pop-out sun visor but it is not as generous as many others. Those eight tiny wheels are great for maneuvering this through the supermarket — It did great on our obstacle course! — but they would not do well on a rocky trail. We see this as an excellent choice mainly for daily errands, runs to the playground and trips to preschool.

This does include a very small parent pocket (you could fit some dollar bills for the ice cream truck in there, but not much else) and a single cupholder. It's got more than 11,100 five-star reviews on Amazon, with most parents saying it's an easy, affordable choice.

With silky fabric and a fold that literally takes a second, there's a lot to appreciate about this new compact stroller, a winner of one of our GH Family Travel Awards. Kids can take comfort from the tall seat that reclines, the extendable footrest and the giant canopy that blocks the sun.

Both our GH Lab experts and our home testers liked how well this handles. This is another lightweight stroller that has suspension wheels similar to a more deluxe model. We noticed it could fly over New York City sidewalks smoothly. A big selling point is that it folds down quickly into a little rectangle to fit in the overhead compartment of a big airplane. (It might not fit in a small plane, but could be gate-checked.) One note: Buckling a child in requires connecting four pieces, and each makes an audible click — helpful because you know it's connected, but a little loud if your young tot is drowsy.

The Butterfly comes with a rain cover which is super useful. But like other strollers on this list, this one has other accessories sold separately including a cup holder and storage bag that fits on the handles. The Butterfly is so new that there's not yet a travel bag for it, but we suspect the brand will come out with one.

Joolz AER Stroller

There's a reason this has a price close to a full-size stroller: It has quality construction backed by a lifetime warranty . It also comes with accessories such as a rain cover and travel bag that other brands ask you to buy separately.

The Dutch brand has a patent pending on the seat construction for its ergonomic, supportive design — it's like a little nest that's supposed to conform to a child's body. The seatback is also taller than many, making it able to accommodate a growing preschooler. Testers said that their kid was totally comfortable riding in this for an afternoon, though in the Lab, we found the recline feature a bit cumbersome to implement.

The seat doesn't lay completely flat but it does recline for relaxation. If, for this price, you want to use the AER from birth, you can buy a separate bassinet attachment , then replace the seat with the bassinet for the first six months. They also sell car seat adaptors to turn this into a travel system but note this only fits three brands of car seats: Nuna, Cybex and Clek.

Colugo The Compact Stroller

Another GH Parenting Award winner, this pick comes in many fun colors and with a bunch of accessories . Our Lab really liked that the stroller could be folded down with just one hand. We found it easy to turn with the sturdy rubber (not plastic) wheels and liked that it came with a cupholder, raincover and carry backpack, plus a seat-pad layer that could be thrown in the washing machine.

The seat folds nearly flat for naps, but this is still suggested for babies 6 months and up, according to the manufacturer. We like the magnets in the buckle, though it took us a few tries to get used to the harness. Watch the brake while walking since they're placed right by your feet and are easy to accidentally step on.

Delta Children Jeep TurboGlyde Side by Side Double

Double strollers are always going to be heavier than single strollers and to get one under 20 pounds, you have to either lose the canopies or the under-stroller storage.

We chose to lose the basket storage. The Jeep TurboGlyde has four storage pockets on the back of this double, though you don't want to add too much weight or, according to our tests, it will tip backward. Mostly what we loved when testing the TurboGlyde Double is the incredibly small fold and the sun protection , and the price is extremely nice for a travel or errand-running double stroller.

Testers say it is easy to push kids of different weights in this, for instance, a 1-year-old and their 3-year-old sibling. The seats don't recline much, so if you want a double stroller for long outings, look for a full-size double stroller .

Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Ultra-Compact Travel Stroller

If you want a lightweight option that lasts you for years, we like that this deep, padded seat has a near-flat recline that's appropriate for infants and big kids alike . Buy the car-seat adaptor and this is a good lightweight choice for newborns who are able to ride in their car seat atop the stroller seat. They should be able to move out of the car seat and to the regular seat by 6 months.

As parents, we appreciated that this comes with its own carry bag for travel. We found the fold to be super easy; you squeeze a latch at the handle and it collapses down in a few easy seconds. It's not exactly a one-handed fold — our testing showed it to be much easier with two hands — but it is fast. The basket is a fairly standard size, not tiny but not huge, so we'd spring for the add-on parent console that gives you a place to rest your water bottle and hide your phone.

Note: Baby Jogger is a brand that, as the name suggests, started as a company that made strollers for jogging. Now, they make a ton of baby gear that has nothing to do with running for exercise; this stroller is great for running errands, but is not for actual jogs! See or guide to the best jogging strollers for those. We also have a lightweight pick for jogging at the end of this list.

gb Pockit Air Lightweight Stroller

If your number one priority is a stroller that's as featherweight as can be, this weighs just over 10 pounds and the fold is incredibly small . Here's the thing: To get there, it has just a sun visor rather than a full canopy, a small basket and the seat is a really simple sling of fabric. That said, our testers said it's perfect for traveling and for short errands with a toddler.

You almost have to see the folding action to believe it — the wheels turn in so the stroller forms just a thin square. It fits anywhere, including an airplane overhead, under an airplane seat in front of you and maybe even in your diaper bag!

If you like the idea of this small fold but would prefer a larger canopy and a little more of a seat, see the Pockit+ All City version — though it's a bit more expensive and a bit heavier.

Evenflo Pivot Xplore Stroller Wagon

Our pick for the best overall wagon stroller also happens to be lightweight — for a stroller wagon. Obviously, nothing with wheels this big is going to be light as air, but the fact that it's a little under 35 pounds makes it a great choice if you'll be lifting your wagon in and out of the car or occasionally taking it up and down steps to the beach or a park.

This stroller wagon can be pushed or pulled. Separate sun-protective canopies let you position them differently for each kid. Each child has a snack tray with a cupholder and there's a generous storage bucket on the back. Stroller wagons are not the best for tired kids, as the seats don't recline, but they are good if you have a lot of stuff to haul and if the kids will be jumping in and out of the wagon.

Our testers say the assembly comes together quickly and the stroller is easy to fold. It works on most terrain (we would stop short of saying all terrain). One tester points out that this, like all strollers, is not totally weatherproof — if it rains, a stroller wagon can collect water in the bottom. But the mesh sides of this model help it dry out and allow for airflow on warm days.

Cybex Libelle

When space is super tight, lightweight strollers don't get much more compact than the Cybex Libelle which, like the Pockit, folds into a rectangle shape. Folded, it measures just 12.6" by 18.9" by 7.9". You will need to use both hands to get it there, while your kid stands next to you or someone else holds your toddler, but in testing, we were able to fold it quickly.

It unfolds fast too — you just unlock it and give it a quick shake to snap it open. It boasts all the functionality you'd want in a lightweight stroller, including easy recline and a UPF 50+ canopy, and it also has a nicely adjusting footrest that can help make this more of a little bed for resting.

This stroller is compatible with the Cybex infant car seat , sold separately if you want to use it from birth.

Thule Spring Stroller

If you like the sporty look of a three-wheeler, we liked testing this stroller with lots of parent-friendly touches . There's a telescoping handle, so if you and your partner are different heights it can adjust.

There's a wrist strap, normally only found on jogging strollers, which gives you a feeling of extra security as you push this along. While it does not fold especially small, it stands up on its own when folded, which makes stashing it anywhere from beside you at a restaurant to inside your foyer a lot easier. And the fold is one of our favorites, you just pull up a lever that's under the seat.

It has a high weight limit, great if you have a Kindergarten kid who still needs a stroller on long outings. Both the canopy and the basket are wide, and the seat reclines nearly flat for naps. All of that adds to the weight, so this comes in a little over 20 pounds — not exactly lightweight, but light for a three-wheeler with all of its features.

Joovy Zoom 360 Ultralight Jogging Stroller

Jogging strollers are going to have a bit more weight to them thanks to their big, bike-like tires that keep things smooth as you breeze down your path. The front wheel can lock so that the jogging stroller stays on course.

Because this is crafted with aluminum and a slim design, it comes in under 30 pounds , about the best you can hope for with a stroller meant for running. It doesn't skimp on its nice wide canopy, and it includes both an organizer with a cupholder and a basket underneath.

While the fold is never especially compact with any jogging stroller, including this one, it does fold very easily using just one hand. One note: These are real air-filled tires, so the stroller comes with a pump. Some online users say it's possible for the wheels to puncture and need a tire change.

Babyzen YOYO2 Stroller

Because seat cushions are sold separately from the frame, you can use this excellent lightweight stroller for your newborn. First, you buy this stroller frame, then add the Newborn Pack that makes it safe from birth. It's truly a newborn-friendly lightweight option that does not require you to use your infant car seat with it.

The frame, shown, comes in either black or white and has a shoulder strap for carrying the folded stroller. There's also a bag to use for travel or storage. The separate newborn pack comes in your choice of six colors and includes a mattress, canopy, foot cover and head support. Once your baby is ready to sit up and use a regular seat you'll want to buy one of the $70 Color Packs which provide a seat cushion, canopy and zippered back pocket. It means you can change the color of your stroller and get a fresh new cushion when you transition from infancy to toddlerhood.

City families who tested this for us love how compact the system is. The small footprint of this stroller makes it a breeze to push down a crowded sidewalk, and the stroller takes up little room in a small home. We suggest leaving it set up at home because folding it is a little awkward. It's easy enough to do if you want to put it in the trunk of a car or into the overhead on an airplane, but in everyday life, we'd just leave this little stroller in its open position.

If you do fall in love with the YoYo, it has a unique way of turning into a double stroller by hitching one YoYo to another, or you can have your big kid ride behind with the board attachment . We like that it adapts and changes as your family grows, and it may be more economical than buying a full-size stroller now and a full-size double stroller later.

RELATED : 50 Must-Have Baby Registry Items

How to find the best lightweight stroller for you

Take note that with the advantage of going light, you will find yourself trading off some sturdiness (the wheels will be smaller and lighter weight) and storage (an under-seat basket, if it exists, will be smaller than that on a full-size stroller). That's why it's important to recognize which features matter to you most.

We find sun protection to be a non-negotiable, which is why we're not featuring any of the super-cheap umbrella strollers that have no visor or canopy. When you're shopping for the best lightweight stroller for your family, we recommend you consider the following:

✔️ Physical footprint: Lightweight strollers typically take up a smaller amount of space, but some fold down to be more compact than others. A stroller with a larger storage basket and wide canopy might not fold as small.

✔️ Folding capabilities: Some strollers feature single-hand folding — this comes in handy when you're by yourself and need to carry your baby in one arm while you fold the stroller.

✔️ Canopy size: Some strollers feature an adjustable or extendable canopy and others claim to have an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) to safeguard against the sun.

✔️ Adjustable seat: Check to see if the seat offers multiple reclining positions. The further back a seat folds, the better it might be for a baby under a year old. For any age, a reclined seat is great for tired kids heading home for a nap. But regardless, always make sure to check the age limit and weight limit before you purchase any stroller.

✔️ Wearable features : Some strollers come with a convenient carrying case or strap that you can sling over your shoulder if you want to carry it folded.

How we test lightweight strollers

The Good Housekeeping Institute has reviewed more than 30 strollers over the past two years using a combination of in-Lab and at-home tests with both expert and consumer reviewers. We also asked manufacturers to provide American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) certification to verify that strollers pass ASTM's safety standards.

At our Institute, we perform tests to assess maneuverability, stability, ease of reclining the stroller, ease of getting babies in and out of the seat including buckling and unbuckling the five-point harness, ergonomics for the parents pushing the stroller, storage space (We try placing the same diaper bag in each basket to compare how it fits.) and more, giving each factor a score of 1 to 5.

We also take the strollers outside and push them over varied terrain including pavement, grass, dirt and cobblestone and we make obstacle courses to judge the navigation effort required.

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

For well over a century the Good Housekeeping Institute has tested consumer-product claims and made recommendations based on data-rich evaluations.

Our stroller testing and coverage was led by Rachel Rothman , who also oversaw GH's annual Toy Awards and Parenting Awards . Rothman is the mom of three young kids.

Our most recent update was written by contributing writer Jessica Hartshorn who has covered the stroller market for a few decades, most recently for Parents magazine.

Jessica (she/her) is a freelance writer with several decades of experience writing lifestyle content and evaluating home and parenting products. A mom of two teens and two cats, her previous work can be seen in American Baby and Parents .

Rachel Rothman was the chief technologist and executive technical director of the Good Housekeeping Institute for over 15 years , overseeing testing methodology, implementation and reporting for all GH Labs. She also managed GH's research division and the analysis of applicants for the GH Seal and all other testing emblems. 

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Best Strollers

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Best Lightweight Strollers of 2024

These top-rated strollers under 15 pounds will save you time, space, and hassle on quick errands and long road trips alike

When you shop through retailer links on our site, we may earn affiliate commissions. 100% of the fees we collect are used to support our nonprofit mission. Learn more .

A bulky stroller can be a drag in the car, on an airplane, or in a crowded mall—not to mention on busy city streets. But there are lightweight strollers that can provide your child with a safe and comfortable ride, according to our tests.

Best Lightweight Umbrella Strollers

Best lightweight traditional strollers, best lightweight traditional strollers under $150, pros and cons of lightweight strollers, how cr tests strollers.

“At CR, we consider a stroller lightweight and compact when it’s under 15 pounds and easy to carry,” says Joan Muratore, the engineer who oversees stroller testing at Consumer Reports. “You should be able to carry it in one hand and your child in the other. And it won’t take up your entire car trunk space .”

Below are six lightweight strollers that will take a load off when you’re out and about. They’re divided into three categories: lightweight umbrella strollers, lightweight traditional strollers, and lightweight traditional strollers under $150. (Umbrella strollers tend to be much cheaper than traditional strollers, but you can find some traditional models at surprisingly low prices.)

If you’re looking for versatile strollers that are easy to carry and store but sturdy enough for travel, take a look at our story on best travel strollers . Our Best Strollers of 2024 story covers our overall highest-rated models in several stroller categories. And if you have multiple youngsters, see our guide to the best double strollers . For more options, our full stroller ratings feature a range of stroller types and brands, including Britax, Graco, Maclaren, Mountain Buggy, Uppababy, and more. Not sure which to choose? Refer to our stroller buying guide as you shop.

Umbrella strollers are a category of strollers named for their shape when folded up: They collapse into a long, narrow package that’s easy to tote and store. They’re already a lightweight class of strollers, but we’ve identified the very lightest among them that perform the best in our tests.

Traditional strollers are great for all-purpose mobility: They can withstand daily wear and tear, are sturdy and maneuverable on a variety of terrain, and tend to have pretty good features like storage space and protective canopies. But many weigh 20 pounds or more. Lighter-weight traditional strollers may lack those extra features, but they’re more well rounded than umbrella strollers—though that tends to mean a larger price tag.

You can find lightweight traditional strollers at lower prices than those above, though they may be lighter on features and may not be quite as ruggedly sturdy as other traditional strollers. Still, the models below performed very well in our tests and make great lightweight stroller options.

Lightweight strollers offer a huge advantage if you frequently go up and down stairs—if you live in an apartment building, for instance—or if you make frequent transfers into and out of a car. You also may not want to maneuver something heavy and bulky (especially immediately postpartum): Among the single strollers we’ve tested are models that weigh as much as 34 pounds.

While these lighter strollers are easy to lift, carry, fold, and stow—and most meet strict Disney theme park requirements—they do have limits. Some may feel less than sturdy, and their small wheels can make them a little more difficult to maneuver. They may not be car seat -compatible, and few accommodate babies who can’t sit up on their own. (For infants, you may want to consider a car-seat carrier : These are stroller frames that use a car seat as a stroller seat, making it easy to transfer sleeping babies in and out of the car. Lightweight strollers also tend to have less storage space than larger strollers.

At our labs in Yonkers, N.Y., CR engineers put strollers through their paces to assess which ones are safe, maneuverable, and easy to use. They use each model the way parents do, using weights to simulate a child—up to 30 pounds in our maneuverability tests and 40 pounds for our safety evaluations—pushing each model through an S-curve test course, steering them between cones, up and down curbs, and over obstructions including grass, mulch, and tree roots.

Molly Bradley

Molly Bradley is a home and appliance writer at Consumer Reports. Before joining CR in 2023, she managed the editorial team at Digg, and has devoted her career to helping readers navigate the world and make their lives a little easier, elucidating topics in technology and culture. Molly earned a master’s degree in writing from Bennington College and lives in Brooklyn, N.Y., with her cat, Saltine. Follow her on X @mollyguinn .

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Mountain buggy terrain, maxi-cosi mara xt ultra compact, chicco bravo le cleartex quick fold, uppababy minu v2, baby jogger city sights, bugaboo dragon fly seat, britax grove, britax brook+, peg perego booklet 50 travel system, peg perego ypsi travel system.

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The Best Travel Strollers Of 2023 For Every Family Vacation And Budget, Per Moms And Experts

Don't be surprised if one becomes your go-to at home, too.

Babies are small, but all their stuff definitely isn't. It hit me when I recently brought my own bundle of joy home to overflowing closets and a hallway lined with So. Much. Baby. Gear. And, I swear I only bought the bare necessities. Nearly six months later, one success stands out amidst the chaos... the holy grail travel stroller I found to keep up with my active lifestyle.

It takes a lot to qualify as a travel stroller. Any old stroller can fold, to be sure, but the best travel strollers need to be as light as a feather and easily-transformable. Basically, you want to be able to pull out the impossibly small bag that holds the stroller (yes, a storage container with comfortable handles is a requirement) and have the pint-size pram emerge in Mary Poppins fashion whenever you need it.

At the same time, no stroller can skimp on the essentials like safety, durability, and comfort for your baby. The last thing a busy mom or dad needs is either a broken wheel mid-airport run, or a malfunction that could jeopardize your child's safety when you're out traveling.

I realize these are lofty expectations, but they are not impossible to meet. There are a lot of strollers boasting top travel-friendly features on the market ranging from budget-friendly $50 models to splurge-worthy $500 strollers that are worth it if you have the budget.

What experts recommend when shopping for a travel stroller:

Considering the fact that travel often comes paired with a lot of walking around while you play tourist, you'll also want to prioritize sturdy wheels that are easy to maneuver. "There's no point in having a stroller that hinders your travel," says Huff.

Every stroller on the list below checks every single one of the below boxes. Plus, some of them include additional helpful features, like a fully reclining seat for sleepy babies, or a canopy if you plan on going somewhere that's particularly sunny or rainy.

See below for the 15 best travel strollers in 2022 for every age, budget, and type of family vacation you plan on taking.

• Best Travel Stroller For Newborns: Silver Cross Jet 3 Travel Stroller
• Best Car Seat Travel Stroller: Doona Infant Car Seat & Latch Base
• Best Adventure Travel Stroller: Thule Urban Glide 2 Jogging Stroller
• Best Adaptable Travel Stroller: Babyzen YOYO2 Stroller
• Best Canopy Travel Stroller: Summer 3Dmini Convenience Stroller
• Most Compact Travel Stroller: GB Pockit+ All City
• Best Travel Stroller For Runners: Guava Family Roam Crossover Stroller
• Best Budget-Friendly Travel Stroller: Mompush Lithe Stroller
• Best Travel Stroller For Multiples: Joovy Kooper X2 Double Stroller
• Best Eco-Friendly Travel Stroller: Joolz AER+
• Most Comfortable Travel Stroller: Ergobaby Metro+ Compact Baby Stroller
• Best Stylish Travel Stroller: Colugo The Compact Stroller
• Best Auto-Fold Travel Stroller: Peg Perego Selfie
• Best Travel Stroller For Hot Weather: Bugaboo Bee 6
• Best Travel Stroller With Rotating Seat: Cybex Eezy S Twist 2

Silver Cross Jet 3 Travel Stroller

I have gym bags that take up more space than this Silver Cross stroller. The Jet weighs only 13 pounds and still manages to have all the creature comforts of heavier, full-size strollers. Note the padded harness for your child and the leather-wrapped handle for you.

The Jet works from birth with car seat adaptors, so you're able to jet-set right away. And, you can use it until your child is about 4 years old so you can make plenty of memories with it. It folds swiftly with one hand to fit in the overhead bin of an airplane with ease. Between gates, you can wheel it around like a small suitcase using the bumper bar as a handle.

Dimensions: 11 x 7 x 22 inches

Weight: 13 pounds

Age: 6 months to 55 pounds

DOONA Infant Car Seat & Latch Base

The best way to cut down on baby stuff at home and on the road is to snag multi-use gear like this genius Doona car seat combo. It takes up the same space as a standard car seat when locked in a vehicle or airplane, but it zips to a stroller in seconds thanks to integrated wheels. Yep, a set of wheels flips out with the touch of a button to get moving without taking your baby out of the seat. (And, the button is easy to press.)

It comes in seven vivid colors, though they're rarely all in stock. It's made for travel, so it's constantly flying off the (virtual) shelves. Keep in mind your child will grow out of it earlier than others, with a max weight of 35 pounds, but newborns as little as four pounds can travel safe with no adaptors necessary. It's also one of Huff's picks.

Dimensions: 23.6 x 17.3 x 26 inches

Weight: 16.5 pounds

Age: 4 to 35 pounds

Thule Urban Glide Jogging Stroller

While this stroller isn't *technically* made for travel, it deserves a shoutout. In fact, I've discovered it rolls along just as well on the road as it does at home. A twist release mechanism folds it all up in one swift motion, but it's not as compact as the others on the list, so it's better as a gate-check stroller for airplane trips rather than stowing in the trunk on road trips.

The front wheel locks for a sturdy ride when I use this for running, and swivels easily on tight turns. The tires are oversized and sturdy, so you can venture on the trail less-traveled (and more graveled) in nearly any weather.

It's made to last and can carry little ones up to 75 pounds for many years of adventures. It features ample under-seat storage for carrying all those kiddo necessities along the way, too.

Dimensions: 34.2 x 27.2 x 13.3 inches

Weight: 23.5 pounds

Age: 6 months to 75 pounds

Babyzen YOYO2 Stroller

This versatile travel stroller is designed to grow with your fam. There are plenty of adjustable features, like an option to incorporate a second baby on-board. Add-on adapters match up with popular car seats, all with a comfortable, soft faux leather handlebar.

No matter the configuration, you can fold it in an ultra-compact size using just one hand. At Babyzen's smallest stroller, the YOYO2 easily fits into overhead compartments on planes. Plus, it looks like a magic trick when you flip it to unfurl it all again. The YOYO2 is another on Huff's list.

Collapsed Dimensions: 20.5 x 17.3 x 7.1 inches Weight: 13.6 pounds Age: 6 months to 40 pounds

Summer Infant 3Dmini Convenience Stroller

If you're planning on traveling somewhere with a lot of sun or rain, this is the stroller for you. Convenience is built right in the 13-pound four-wheeler that can handle whatever roads you set your sights on.

The Summer 3Dmini features a simple fold and built-in carry strap. For a stroller with a canopy, it's seriously compact. At the same time, it's also big on storage with a spacious basket under the seat. Plus, the seat folds totally flat for naps on-the-go. You can't beat the affordable price tag either.

Collapsed Dimensions: 10 x 12 x 43 inches

Age: 6 months to 50 pounds

gb Pockit+ All City Travel Stroller

This travel stroller is so impressive that it earned a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records as the "World’s Smallest Folded Stroller." TBH, it may even fit in your diaper bag. It even folds to its record-breaking size with a simple two-step maneuver.

It doesn't skimp on performance when the wheels are unfurled, either. The seat reclines to multiple positions for ideal nap and sightseeing options for little ones, and you can even use it from infancy with a Cybex infant car seat. the slim wheels and front suspension are specifically designed for a smooth ride on small, busy city streets.

Collapsed Dimensions: 11.8 x 7.1 x 13.8 inches

Weight: 10.1 pounds

Guava Roam Crossover Stroller

If running with your baby on vaca is a must, so is this travel-friendly stroller for runners, designed to be used on bumpy terrain. The swing-arm style suspension means the airless bike tires move independently and smoothly over even the most uneven surfaces.

Simply grab the covered handle with one hand and the whole stroller collapses into a standalone pack.

Collapsed Dimensions: 29 x 15 x 17 inches

Weight: 28.5 pounds

Age: 6 months to 60 pounds

Mompush Lithe

If you want to leave more $$ in your travel fund, this buggy won't wallop your wallet. It doesn't skimp on handy features for you or your tot, either.

The Lithe comes complete with a rain cover, travel carry bag, and a cup holder. Yep, it's basically reading your mind by anticipating all your travel needs. The seat reclines for nap time, and the XL canopy protects from the sun.

It's also lightweight and folds with one hand into a luggage-style compact package that slides into the carry bag, a car trunk, or an overhead compartment with ease. Pop it right back into strolling mode when you're ready to roll with just one hand, then enjoy an easy steer and smooth ride with this stroller's all-wheel suspension.

The Lithe also comes in a double stroller version that folds almost as small as the single, if you happen to have more than one baby in your crew.

Collapsed Dimensions: 23 x 21.7 x 9.8 inches

Weight: 14.4 pounds

A ge: 6 months to 40 pounds

Joovy Kooper X2 Double Stroller

More than one little one in your traveling fam? This vaca-ready double stroller is for you and your multiples. It comes with snack trays, features a one-handed fold, and even stands on its own when folded. Translation? Both your hands can be free for wrangling everything else.

Don't be fooled by the slim profile—the seats are super roomy for children up to 50 pounds each. (Yep, this buggy can hold up to 100 pounds.)

Fun fact: It meets Disneyland and Disney World stroller size requirements.

Collapsed Dimensions: 26 x 30.3 x 12.8 inches

Weight: 28 pounds

Age: 3 months to 50 pounds

The Aer+ is big on comfort on-the-go. Its four-wheel suspension makes it feel like a full-size stroller when you're venturing on uneven surfaces. (Sidewalk cracks and dips are no match for it.) And, the padded seat contours to your child's body for a custom, ultra-comfortable fit.

Not only that, it comes with a sizable storage basket underneath plus a travel pouch and rain cover, so you can be prepared for just about anything. Foldable with one hand, all those features plus the fact that the company focuses on sustainable business practices makes this one a win for you and the planet.

Strollers and other gear ship in boxes that transform into toys for your kids, and the brand will plant a tree for every product sold.

Collapsed Dimensions: 21 x 17.7 x 8.5 inches

Weight: 13.2 pounds

Ergobaby Metro+ Compact Baby Stroller

This stroller ensures parents and little ones enjoy the journey as well as the destination. The extra cushioned seat, adjustable handlebar, and spring suspension up the comfort level for every member of your fam.

Because of that, don't be surprised if you find yourself using it for more walks around your neighborhood than on vaca. Collapse it with one hand when you're ready to pick up and go. And, choose from among six colors for the sunshade to stand out in the crowd.

Collapsed Dimensions: 21 x 10 x 17 inches

Weight: 16.9 pounds

Age: birth to 50 pounds

Colugo The Compact Stroller

Colugo's travel-friendly model comes in a full rainbow of color options with even more appealing features. It's super lightweight, making maneuvering in airports and bumpy streets a breeze. When it's time to collapse it, simply use the built-in carrying strap or backpack it comes with.

Plus, when it's folded, it easily slides in overhead bins. Messes won't slow you down, either, as the seat cover is fully wipeable and machine washable.

Collapsed Dimensions: 17 x 24 x 10 inches

Weight: 16 pounds

Peg Perego Selfie Stoller

This Italian stroller one-upped all the one-handed collapsing models with a self-folding(!) feature. If that wasn't enough for you, the backrest reclines for nap time, and suspension wheels with ball bearings ensure rough roads feel smooth enough to keep your napping child asleep. The ride is as smooth as can be.

Collapsed Dimensions: 20 x 24.4 x 16 inches Weight: 14 pounds Age: birth to 50 pounds

Bugaboo Bee 6 Stroller

The Bugaboo Bee is made for families who love the sun. Your child will appreciate the enhanced ventilation thanks to a breathable mesh seat fabric designed not to trap heat and a breezy sun canopy. After a quick, one-handed fold, the Bee stands on its own, and collapses to a size that can be stowed in overhead bins with ease.

The price is at the high end, but you can test stroll it for 100 days to confirm it's the one for you risk-free.

Collapsed Dimensions: 29.92 x 18.5 x 13.39 inches

Weight: 20.8 pounds

A ge: 6 months to 4 years

Cybex Eezy S Twist 2

An easy journey is never guaranteed, but it's within reach with the Eezy. Small, yet loaded with convenient features, the seat is removable and rotates 360-degrees. Yep, that means your child can face you or out to the world for a greater sense of control. It also includes a bumper bar, adjustable calf support, and ample storage space.

The Eezy S+ 2 opens and folds simply with one hand. The collapsed package can stand on its own or slide into an overhead compartment.

Collapsed Dimensions: 12 x 17.7 x 20.3 inches

Weight: 18.2 pounds

Jennifer Nied is the fitness editor at Women’s Health and has more than 10 years of experience in health and wellness journalism. She’s always out exploring—sweat-testing workouts and gear, hiking, snowboarding, running, and more—with her husband, daughter, and dog. 

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The 9 Best Travel Stroller Systems in 2023

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What is a travel stroller system? Well basically, it is just a stroller and car seat duo. Rather than purchasing each piece separately, you will get the stroller, infant car seat, and car seat base in a bundle.

We used a travel system stroller for each of our kids when they were infants. I have to say, it is totally worth it. It is so nice when you have a sleeping baby to easily transfer them to the stroller. All you have to do is get the car seat out of the car and pop it into the stroller where it will securely click in. We want to make finding the right fit for you as easy as possible, so we’ve broken down all the details. Let’s take a look at the best travel stroller systems!

The Best Travel Stroller Systems

Breaking Down What You Need to Know About Travel System Stroller and Car Seat Duos

Travel system strollers have multiple components:

• Bassinet (*only some travel systems will include this piece)

The best travel system strollers have two main components, the car seat, and the stroller. Most systems discuss the stroller specifics as that’s the piece you will use longest, but you should also look into the car seat specifications before deciding on a system.

The Car Seat

When looking to purchase a travel system stroller there are a few things to think about when it comes to the car seat. Most importantly, you should know that the car seat will likely be for rear-facing infants only. If you would prefer a convertible car seat , then a travel system may not be the best fit for you.

As a new parent, you will inevitably be lugging around a baby car seat because babies sleep all the time. Being able to place the car seat into a stroller is the perfect solution. With a travel stroller system, you can rest easy that your car seat will pop right into your stroller safely and easily since they are made for each other.

 If you need further guidance on choosing the right car seat, we can help you out with that here!

The Stroller

While the car seat is very age specific, the stroller typically can be used beyond the car seat age. This is something to consider because you may want to use the stroller after your baby has grown beyond the infant car seat. If you’re looking to buy just one stroller but don’t mind upgrading your car seat as needed a travel system stroller may be a good option.

The components or specifics of the stroller should also be considered before finalizing your purchase.

Other stroller components to consider are:

• Storage : Most have a basket for bottom storage but may also include an option to hang the diaper bag. For days when you will be out for a while, this storage becomes very important.
• Cupholders : Most come with cupholders, either in the handle or attached. You will want these for bottles, sippy cups, and the occasional coffee of yours that makes it out the door before cold.
• Flexibility or adjustable seating : Some seats can fold down, or carry two children at once. If you have other children or plan to, it is smart to look into attachment options for the system you choose, like standing boards.
• Ease of travel:  Consider how the stroller breaks down to travel with, the overall weight, and how easy it is to use. No matter how cool it is or what unique features are included, if you can’t easily use it there’s no reason to have it. Parenthood is hard enough!

9 Best Travel Stroller Systems

UPPAbaby Vista V2 + Mesa Infant Car Seat Travel System – Our Top Overall Pick

If you are looking to splurge on the very best travel stroller system, you have to check out the UPPAbaby Vista V2 and Mesa Infant Car Seat travel system.  The Vista V2 stroller, bassinet, and Mesa Infant Car Seat make up this gorgeous and high-end set. You will be getting a great stroller that is built for the long run + an easy to clip in & highly rated car seat.

The stroller can recline completely flat, which comes in handy with a small baby if you are going for a walk and don’t feel that the car seat is necessary. Not to mention the bassinet attachment that is perfect for newborns and the toddler seat which can face forward or towards you! The stroller also folds up with one easy step.

As for longevity, the Vista V2 stroller can be converted to grow alongside your family by adding on accessories like the Piggyback Ride Along Board and additional seat attachments.

Make sure to check out all the beautiful colors this stroller comes in to find one that is uniquely you!

Weight & Age Restrictions:

• Car Seat Age Range: 4-35 lbs
• Stroller Age Range: Newborn up to 50 lbs per seat

Nuna Tavo & Pipa RX – Best Lightweight Travel Stroller System

This luxury set comes with the multimode TAVO stroller, a PIPA RX infant car seat, and a base. Nuna is all about clean lines and the ingenuity of Dutch design, which clearly carries over into this timeless stroller set. This set is very lightweight and folds up nearly flat for storage. This is a durable stroller that you will get use out of for many years!

Getting the car seat in and out of the stroller is a breeze, so you won’t risk waking up your sweet babe. The canopy provides 50+ UPF sun protection, the seat is very easy to recline for those toddler years, and there is a good amount of storage underneath.

• Car Seat Age Range: 4-32 lbs
• Stroller Age Range: Up to 50 lbs

Chicco Bravo Trio Travel System – Best Bang for Your Buck

The Chicco Bravo Trio includes the Key Fit 30 infant car seat, the base, and the Bravo stroller. This car seat is extremely popular and definitely a Rookie Mom Favorite! The stroller features a completely removable seat, making it very easy to pop the car seat right into the frame. Then, when you put the seat back in, it is converted to a traditional stroller.

As for ease, you can fold the stroller with one hand, there are auto-positioning wheels, and it self-stands when in its compact position. From mom to mom, this self-standing thing is a pretty big deal. It means you can get your little one out, put them safely in the car, and then come back to put your stroller away at the very end without worrying about it sitting on the dirty ground.

There’s also a parent tray on top with cupholders and storage space perfect for your phone. This travel stroller system really has it all at a great price tag! 

Weight & Age Restrictions: 50 lb rider weight limit

• Car Seat Age Range: 4-35 lbs and Up to 32″ tall

Evenflo Pivot Modular Travel System – Best Grow with Me Option

The Evenflo Pivot Modular Travel System includes the Safemax infant car seat, the SafeMax base, and the Sibby stroller. First off, the car seat fits right in the stroller seat making it very easy to convert back and forth. The stroller is also very easy to fold and store. It has an oversized bottom basket for storage that is accessible from both the front and the rear.

All around, this stroller is sleek and built for convenience. And I forgot to mention, every component is super lightweight! At this low price point, this is one of the best budget buys you can make as a parent.

• Stroller Age Range: Newborn to 5 years

Evenflo Pivot Xpand Modular Travel System – Best for Moms of 2 or More

Don’t worry, the best travel system strollers are not just for moms of one! The Evenflo Pivot has a unique system that allows you to transport two children at once. The SafeMax car seat, base, toddler seat, and stroller frame are all included in the system. This stroller has a whopping 22 different configurations. This gives you the freedom to customize the stroller to your needs, with parent-facing options and a deep recline. It can be used as a single or double stroller and everything in between.

The extra large storage basket expands to give you two feet of storage. This is incredibly nice when you’ve got 2+ kids tagging along and need to bring all their gear. Amazingly, the stroller still folds into a compact size and the lightweight frame makes it easy to maneuver and travel with.

• Stroller Age Range: Up to 55 lbs

Britax B-Free Sport & B-Safe Gen2 Flexfit+ – Best Travel System Jogger

This system comes with the B-Safe Gen2 FlexFit Plus infant car seat and base, B-Free Sport Stroller,  and adapters. The car seat has a steel frame and a shock absorbing base to provide your baby with maximum safety. The stroller has a three-wheel jogger design, which can be hard to find as a travel system. The handlebar is super easy to adjust along with the ability to fold the stroller with just one hand.

Another big bonus is the amount of storage with the huge basket and great storage pockets! You will definitely be able to bring everything you need along with you. 

• Car Seat Age Range: Up to 35 lbs
• Stroller Age Range: Up to 65 lbs

Graco FastAction Fold Travel System – Easy to Use Design

The Graco FastAction Fold system comes with a SnugRide Click Connect 30 car seat and a lightweight stroller. This is another extremely popular and highly rated car seat. As for the stroller, it stands out among competitors with its FastAction fold system that collapses the unit in a few seconds. Talk about taking ease to a new level! The stroller is light, collapses with one hand and stands on its own for storage.

This stroller was designed with older children in mind as well. The seat is adjustable and reclines for a comfortable ride. The extra large storage basket and parent tray with cup holders make this a great all-around travel stroller system.

Weight & Age Restrictions: 

Safety 1st Smooth Ride Travel System – Great for Travel

The Safety 1st Smooth Ride Travel Stroller System includes the onBoard 35 LT infant car seat with the base and compatible stroller. The QuickClick LATCH system secures the car seat to the stroller quickly and securely. You will find that the visor on the car seat along with the visor on the stroller provides great sun protection. Some other features I love are the super agile wheels, the 5-point harness on the stroller component, and the perfectly sized storage basket.

The entire system was designed with the priority of having lightweight components easy to travel with. This being said they made sure to create a stroller that is also easy to collapse with one hand. This is a great simple & complete travel system.

Graco Modes Nest Travel System

I have been thoroughly impressed by this stroller! The Graco Modes Nest Travel System offers numerous high-end features while still remaining affordable. It comes with the Graco Modes Nest stroller base, toddler seat, the Graco SnugRide 35 Lite Elite Infant Car Seat, and car seat base.

The standout feature of the Graco Modes Nest Travel System is its versatile configurations, allowing it to function as an infant car seat, Pramette (bassinet), or regular toddler stroller. It effortlessly adapts as your baby grows, with seamless transitions between modes. Switching the toddler seat from forward-facing to rear-facing was surprisingly effortless, and attaching the car seat to the base was also a breeze. All of these modes remind me a lot of the Uppababy Vista! You can find my full review of this travel system here.

Weight & Age Restrictions: 

• Infant Car Seat Age Range: 4-35 lbs
• Stroller Age Range: Up to 50 Lbs

Here’s Why We Think New Parents Need a Travel Stroller System

Travel system strollers are ideal because they give you easy mobility with a small infant. Your baby cannot sit in a regular stroller until they can sit up on their own. For most babies, this is around 5-7 months old. Until then they either need to be laid back completely flat, placed in a bassinet, or be in a car seat that is part of a travel stroller system. Of course, there is always the option to carry them or wear them but this ties up your hands and becomes super difficult as they put on those baby rolls.

The travel stroller system is one of the best options out there because you get everything you need for your newborn all in one. Then, as a bonus, you get to continue using the stroller even after they have long outgrown their rear-facing car seat.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the top rated stroller travel system?

Best Overall- UPPAbaby Vista V2 + Mesa Infant Car Seat Travel System Best Bang for Your Buck- Chicco Bravo Trio Travel System Best Lightweight Travel System- Nuna Tavo & Pipa RX

What is the lightest stroller travel system?

Our favorite light weight stroller travel system is the Nuna Tavo & Pipa RX. This set is very lightweight and folds up nearly flat for storage.

Why is UPPAbaby so popular?

UPPAbaby makes great strollers that are built for the long run, easy to use, and are made of high-end materials.

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I tried this luxury travel stroller and finally felt like the cool mom that I was always meant to be

I’m pregnant and a toddler mom, so the NBC Select team has made me their de facto tester for parenting and maternity products. I guess that makes me an expert. While crafting my baby registry, the Silver Cross Jet 5 stroller was on the short list, so I jumped for joy (as much as I can jump at 8 months pregnant) when the team asked me to review it.

SKIP AHEAD How I tested | What I liked | Some things to note | Other strollers | Why trust NBC Select?

select I’m pregnant and refuse to wear jeans — here are my favorite maternity leggings

Silver cross jet 5 stroller.

The newly launched Silver Cross Jet 5 stroller is marketed as the perfect travel stroller — in fact, the brand says that you can push the stroller up to the gate, effortlessly fold it up and store it in the overhead compartment. While I found that it didn’t replace my everyday stroller, I absolutely adored it for the dreaded “traveling with kids” times. 

How I tested the Silver Cross Jet 5 stroller

I tested this stroller for three weeks and evaluated its size, weight and durability —  grocery shopped, walked my son to camp and strutted around a mall. I also lifted the stroller (again, I’m 8 months pregnant), folded it up and stored it in my home and trunk. My initial impressions on some key features are below:

• Size : Compared to the YOYO Zen (another beloved travel stroller) , both strollers fold really well, but the Silver Cross can fold even smaller and more compact than the Yoyo, in my experience.
• Weight : While weight doesn’t seem like an important factor, at 37 weeks pregnant, I wanted this stroller to be something I could manage on my own. After all, I’m a strong independent woman who just happens to also be pregnant. The stroller folded with ease and could be taken in and out of a car by myself , with ease.

What I like

With a 37-week-pregnant belly and a 2.5-year-old, I don’t leave the house unless I have to. My hands are already full enough, but then you add the diaper bag, snacks and emotional support stuffed animal — it’s just too much. And the amount to carry doubles when we go on a road trip or a vacation. That’s why a lightweight stroller is of the utmost importance. Our car has been feeling even smaller and smaller these days, so the Silver Cross Jet 5 — weighing 15.87 lbs — stroller came at the perfect time. With the new baby on the way, I also loved the double perk of working for my 27-pound toddler and a newborn.

I’d be remiss not to mention how sleek and modern the stroller looks — you’d be like, “C’mon Becca, it’s right in front of you.” While convenience is key (and the stroller delivers that), I was so excited by the leather details, fancy magnetic buckles and padded seat — I’m not a regular mom, I’m a cool mom who wants a cool stroller. The material feels as silky as the top of a newborn’s head. For the first time, I felt like a stylish mom wheeling my Jet 5 down the grocery aisles. 

If I’m buying a travel stroller, it needs to fit in the plane’s overhead bin. My husband and I have too many horror stories of checked strollers being damaged (stories for another time). With the Jet 5, you can roll your child right up to the plane. Plus, it folds in one smooth motion with one hand, allowing for smooth boarding. The stroller also comes with a protective cover to ensure there is no damage when being loaded in your car or overhead bin. 

Parents know the struggle of buckling your bucking child into the stroller when trying to leave the house, and the sleek three-click magnetic buckle did not let me down. I didn’t have to worry about snapping my fingers accidentally or pinching my toddler’s skin. 

Something largely important for safety in a stroller is a good locking feature — where the wheels lock to prevent the stroller from rolling away. Some have locks on the handles and some only have one peddle to click up and down. I love the Jet 5’s bottom two locks, colored in green and red for an obvious, yet effective method to lock your stroller.

Size and weight

When the box arrived, I could not believe it fit a stroller inside something that small. Whether you have a small house or car, this stroller can fit into any corner or trunk space, with plenty of leftover space. At just 15.87 lbs, I love that I can lift and maneuver this stroller all by myself while juggling a running toddler. 

Advertised as ”suitable from birth to 55 lbs and is car seat compatible,” the Jet 5 carries the heaviest weight that I have found in a travel stroller. That means that my little one still has 20 more lbs to go before he’s too big for it. The newborn car seat adapter is also *chef’s kiss*. 

The Jet 5 also comes with a lie-flat feature, which is incredibly handy for napping toddlers. You can even keep the sun out of your sleeping baby’s eyes with the hood, which has UPF 50+ protection. 

Things to note

In my experience, this stroller is meant for travel and is not ideal for work or everyday use. I found that the lack of storage was a little frustrating for everyday use — I could only fit minimal small items, meaning I had to be strategic about fitting things under the seat.  Also, if you’re heavily pregnant, access to the basket is tricky; You need to bend over and maneuver around a bar in the front middle of the basket, so taking out items is a bit laborious.

The Jet 5 starts at a hefty price of $475, which is on the higher end than some other travel strollers. If you want additions like a phone holder, snack tray or cup holder those are an additional $30 per item. The stroller does come with a protective cover and raincover, which is a nice addition. But, the quality and size making the price worth it, in my opinion.

Other baby stroller products to consider

Along with the Silver Cross Jet 5 travel stroller, I’ve tried many other everyday and travel strollers (remember, I’m an expert). If you’re still undecided on the Jet 5, then check out a few of my other recommendations.

Guava Roam Stroller

Other parents will understand: the most exciting thing about this stroller is the storage.  It’s not hyperbole when I say that you barely need a diaper bag when using the Guava — the side pockets hold toddler snacks and water, the behind-seat pockets hold adult snacks and the below-stroller pockets are great for larger items. I also love how elevated and organized the pockets make the stroller feel —  one less chaotic mess for me to tackle.

BabyZen Yoyo2 Stroller

Babyzen Yoyo2 Stroller

With one flick of the wrist, you can fold and unfold the YoYo stroller, which is huge for traveling and commutes. It’s typically a part of my normal stroller rotation, so I would also highly recommend this option.

Strolee Travel Stroller

The pricepoint on this travel stroller is pretty competitive. It can recline almost completely flat and is travel-friendly, meaning that it can fit in the overhead compartment. It can also turn into a tandem double stroller in under 30 seconds, according to the brand.

select This is the best baby stroller I’ve ever used — seriously

Final verdict .

I love the Silver Cross Jet 5. If you are in the market for a travel-friendly stroller, this is a great, stylish option (albeit pricey one). I would not suggest it for everyday use given that the snack and diaper-storage pockets are limited.

Why trust NBC Select?

I am the senior commerce photo editor and producer at NBCUniversal. I’m also the mom to a two-year-old and pregnant with my second baby. I’ve tested nearly a dozen baby strollers to find the best one for my growing family. I’ve also written reviews for Shop Today, including my review of Amazon workout shirts and gifts for Mother’s Day .

Catch up on NBC Select’s in-depth coverage of personal finance , tech and tools , wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook , Instagram , Twitter and TikTok to stay up to date.

Senior commerce photo editor

These are the 10 best travel strollers for your next trip

Editor's Note

Traveling with babies and children requires bringing a lot of extras along for the journey — and one essential you often can't travel without while the kids are little is a stroller. With so many options, choosing which stroller to buy for travel can be enough to make your wheels fall off (that's a stroller joke, by the way).

Large strollers offer all the bells and whistles but may be too heavy, too large or just plain inconvenient to lug around an airport or onto a plane. They can also be challenging to maneuver in your travel destination.

Compact or umbrella strollers may work better for flying, as they're often lightweight and small enough to fold up quickly and easily. In fact, some of these strollers designed for travel will even fit in the overhead bin on your plane.

However, the smaller design can make it tricky to find something comfortable enough for your child or baby to sit in for extended periods of time or to handle the rough terrain at some destinations. In other words, there are trade-offs when you pick the best travel stroller for your family.

Related: When to bring a stroller on a trip (and when to leave it behind)

As parents and frequent travelers, we've tested some of the top-rated travel strollers on the market to help you find the perfect stroller for your family. With those road-tested miles logged, here are the best travel strollers that passed the test and a few tips for your next trip.

Babyzen Yoyo2

• Best for: Parents who need a compact stroller that can fit in the airplane overhead bin
• Weight: 13.6 to 14.5 pounds
• Size when folded: 20.5 inches by 17.3 inches by 7.1 inches
• To buy: Babyzen Yoyo2 , $449

Why Babyzen Yoyo2 is a good travel stroller

The Babyzen Yoyo2 is accepted by most airlines as cabin baggage when folded. Despite its small stature, this stroller is built for long-lasting use beyond just travel, making it especially apt for families living in small spaces in need of one easy-to-maneuver stroller that can do it all.

When you add on the optional newborn pack ($180), the Babyzen Yoyo2 can be used from birth on. With a substantial sun protection factor of 50-plus for its canopy, plus a gradual recline, an under-seat storage bag that supports up to 11 pounds, a zipper pocket and a padded shoulder strap for carrying the stroller when folded, the Yoyo2 is as durable and comfortable closed as it is open.

It's not the most budget-friendly option on this list, especially if you purchase extras like the newborn pack. Unless you purchase the newborn pack, however, the stroller doesn't fully recline for babies ages 0 to 6 months.

TPG senior aviation business reporter David Slotnick is a big fan of this stroller when he flies with his family, sharing, "It folds up small enough to go in the overhead bin and is super lightweight and durable. Every single time the flight attendants are surprised by how compact it is."

• Best for: Families who need a stroller that folds up small but can handle lots of use
• Weight: 10.4 pounds
• Size when folded: 11.8 inches by 7.1 inches by 13.8 inches
• To buy: GB Pockit , $149.99 (regularly $199.95)

Why GB Pockit is a good travel stroller

The GB Pockit has been named the world's most compact stroller by the Guinness Book of World Records, folding up in just two easy steps. Don't let its small size fool you. It still has a weight capacity of up to 55 pounds and can handle a bumpy sidewalk as well as it handles the moving walkway at the airport.

Although the no-frills GB Pockit doesn't come with all the extra bells and whistles (which is why it folds up so easily), it does have a mini sun canopy, an adjustable harness and a small storage space underneath the seat.

The GB Pockit is designed for babies 6 months and older, so parents of newborns will have to wait a bit to use this small-but-mighty stroller.

Summer 3Dlite Convenience Stroller

• Best for: Families who need a budget-friendly travel stroller
• Weight: 13 pounds
• Size when folded: 14 inches by 10 inches by 42 inches
• To buy: Summer 3Dlite Convenience Stroller , $71.53 (regularly $99.99)

Why Summer 3Dlite is a good travel stroller

Budget-savvy parents will likely be immediately drawn to the price of the Summer 3Dlite Convenience Stroller , but that's far from the only thing to love about this lightweight stroller.

The 3Dlite has a full canopy, anti-shock front wheels and a four-position recline that almost lies flat. It can hold kids who weigh up to 50 pounds, and the storage basket underneath can hold up to 10 pounds of baby travel necessities .

Speaking of extras, this affordable stroller comes with a cup holder, a velcro pocket and a carry strap too. One thing it doesn't come with — adjustable handles. Parents on the taller side may not find this stroller comfortable for long periods of time.

Like similar lightweight strollers, the 3Dlite is made for babies 6 months and older, so parents of newborns will have to wait to use this stroller.

• Best for: Families in the market for a comfortable, lightweight travel stroller
• Weight: 13.23 pounds
• Size when folded: 21 inches by 17.7 inches by 8.5 inches
• To buy : Joolz Aer+ , $449

Why the Joolz Aer+ is a good travel stroller

The Joolz Aer+ folds up in one second with just one hand, which is ideal for anyone holding additional luggage (or a child) in their arms. When folded, the stroller easily slides into most airlines' overhead storage bins.

The seat is lightweight but made to be especially comfortable for kids. The foldable seat provides support and cushion for the child's neck and back in all positions of reclining, and the sides conform to the body for additional comfort and support.

The included sun hood provides UPF 50+ sun protection, and there is a large storage basket underneath. Joolz does offer add-on products like a cup holder, footboard and car seat adapters, but you must purchase those separately.

Although the stroller is adjustable, it's designed for kids 6 months and up (the stroller has a 49-pound maximum weight limit) and doesn't fully recline. If you plan to use this stroller with a newborn, you can buy a newborn carrycot ($219) to use for babies.

UPPAbaby Vista V2

• Best for: Parents who want a high-end stroller that can expand with their growing family
• Weight: 27 pounds
• Size when folded: 25.7 inches by 17.3 inches by 33 inches
• To buy: UPPAbaby Vista V2 , $1,299

Why the UPPAbaby Vista V2 is a good travel stroller

The UPPAbaby Vista V2 is a luxe travel stroller that can grow with your child. The standard bundle comes with a stroller frame, a toddler seat, an infant seat and base and a bassinet, so you can begin using the stroller as soon as you bring your baby home and up until they reach 50 pounds. This stroller folds in one easy step and can stand on its own when folded.

The UPPAbaby Vista V2 can be further configured to seat up to three children, with the addition of a rumble seat and/or ride-along board. In addition to being versatile, the UPPAbaby Vista V2 provides a smooth ride with spring-action all-wheel suspension, comes with a UPF 50+ sunshade and holds all of your travel essentials in the oversized storage basket that can hold up to 30 pounds of baby gear.

TPG's vice president of marketing and communications chose the UPPAbaby Vista V2 as her first travel stroller. "We are expecting our first baby in just a few short weeks and decided to go with the UPPAbaby Vista V2 for our stroller because we live in NYC and wanted something that is durable, long-lasting and able to convert to multiple combinations," she shared. "This stroller rolls like butter and the storage basket is incredible spacious. It comes with a bassinet and toddler seat, but I love that there are also a ton of accessories you can purchase separately to make the stroller meet your needs," she added.

Related: The best baby travel products according to TPG readers

It's not the lightest or smallest stroller on this list, but the multitude of use options, durability, and thoughtful details like full-grain leather accents, a rain cover and multiple color options make it a great choice if you want a do-it-all stroller that you can use for the long haul.

Doona Car Seat & Stroller

• Best for: Parents of newborns who want an all-in-one stroller solution
• Weight: 16.5 pounds
• Size when folded: 23.6 inches by 17.3 inches by 26 inches
• To buy: Doona Car Seat & Stroller , $650

Why the Doona is a good travel stroller

The wheels of the Doona Car Seat & Stroller snap up to transform it from a stroller into a car seat, making it ideal for globetrotters who are always on the move. Having this one-of-a-kind product ensures you won't need to figure out a car seat plan when arriving at your destination or lug extra gear around the airport.

There are certainly cheaper strollers out there, but when you consider that you are getting a stroller and car seat for one price, the Doona is a surprisingly economical choice.

The Doona looks sharp with faux-leather detailing and sleek black fabric and performs well with an extendable handlebar, canopy shade and a storage bag that attaches to the handlebar. You can purchase a larger storage bag, sunshade and travel bag separately.

The Doona is suitable for babies and kids weighing between 4 and 35 pounds and can only be used as rear-facing, so your baby is likely to outgrow this stroller more quickly than other travel strollers. For the newborn stage, though, it doesn't get much better than the convenient, compact Doona.

Thule Chariot Double Jogging Stroller

• Best for: Families who need a stroller for outdoor adventures
• Weight: 32 pounds
• Size when folded: 34.2 inches by 31.5 inches by 14.7 inches
• To buy: Thule Chariot Double Jogging Stroller , $1,349.95

Why Thule Chariot Double Jogging Stroller is good for travel

The Thule Chariot Double Jogging Stroller may not immediately strike you as a travel-friendly stroller option, but if your travels include hiking, biking or camping (skiing and jogging kits can be purchased separately), you'll be glad to have multi-sport trailer and stroller along for the ride.

As far as trailers and strollers go, the Thule Chariot is top-of-the-line. It folds up smaller than similar strollers, has independently-reclining seats for napping on the go, adjustable suspension for a smooth ride no matter the surface, adjustable ventilation and a large storage basket.

Because of its design, you'll have to gate-check the Thule Chariot when you fly, but TPG's senior director of engineering Mitchell Stoutin believes the stroller's larger size is one of the biggest benefits. "It can double as a 'napping cave' or even a luggage cart in the airport, but the real reason I bought it is because I wanted to do a car seat-free trip with my kids," he said.

When he flew to Sitka, Alaska, with his family, he brought along the bike trailer attachment and rented bikes to use on the island. "Even while towing the kids behind the bike during a downpour, both kids stayed dry and warm," Stoutin shared. "The Thule enabled us to take a different kind of vacation with our kids."

Baby Jogger City Mini GT2

• Best for: Families looking for a stroller that they can use for the long haul
• Weight: 22 pounds
• Size when folded: 25.6 inches by 11.2 inches by 33 inches
• To buy: Baby Jogger City Mini GT2 , $329 (regularly $399.99)

Why the Baby Jogger City Mini GT2 is a good travel stroller

The Baby Jogger City Mini GT2 is a top-tier stroller with a mid-tier price. While not the lightest or smallest on this list, it is made to last. Stoutin, who has had this stroller for six years and used it with three kids, shared that it still functions perfectly.

The City Mini GT2's durability is thanks to its "forever air" rubber tires that never need to be inflated and all-wheel suspension, making it swift and nimble no matter the terrain. It's also highly customizable with an adjustable handlebar and the ability to add an infant car seat, pram, glider board, parent console and child tray (all sold separately).

This stroller folds up quickly and easily with a one-hand fold and keeps your baby comfortable with a near-flat reclining seat and adjustable calf support. There's also a large under-seat basket that holds up to 10 pounds.

The City Mini GT2 can be used with a newborn, using the Baby Jogger infant car seat (sold separately) or the included car seat adapters, and all the way through the toddler stage with an impressive maximum weight limit of 65 pounds.

Joovy Kooper X2 Double Stroller

• Best for: Parents of multiple kids who need a lightweight, compact stroller
• Weight: 28 pounds
• Size when folded: 26 inches by 30.3 inches by 12.8 inches
• To buy: Joovy Kooper X2 Double Stroller , $429.99 (regularly $459.99)

Why the Joovy Kooper X2 Double Stroller is good for travel

Finding a side-by-side double stroller that meets your needs is no simple task, but the Joovy Kooper X2 ticks all the boxes. It has wide, comfortable, adjustable seats for your kids but is slim enough to easily fit through doorways. It folds up easily with one hand and stands on its own when folded. Also, the must-have extras like snack trays, shade canopies and multiple storage spaces are all included.

The seats and shade canopies adjust independently so you can accommodate your children when nap time arrives, and the under-stroller storage basket holds up to 22 pounds (because more kids always means more stuff). If you have a theme park trip in the future, the Joovy Kooper X2 meets Disney World and Disneyland's stroller size requirements .

Each seat is designed to hold a child up to 50 pounds, but it is not compatible with infant car seats, so you can't start using it until your child is at least 3 months old.

Nuna PIPA urbn + TRVL Stroller and Car Seat Travel System

• Best for: City dwellers who need a stroller system that can go from sidewalk to car to airplane seamlessly
• Weight: 13.6 pounds
• Size when folded: 24 inches by 20.25 inches by 11 inches
• To buy: NUNA PIPA urbn + TRVL stroller and car seat travel system , $900

Why the NUNA is a good travel stroller

The PIPA urbn + TRVL system from NUNA is one of the most lightweight and easy-to-use travel systems on the market. The included infant car seat has a baseless latch installation system, so you can use it in a cab, ride-hailing vehicle or airplane seat as easily as you can use it in your own car.

With the car seat removed, the stroller base folds with one hand to a super-compact size that makes it easy to carry. You can even utilize the included carry bag or remove the wheels for an even smaller folded size if necessary.

TPG's director of marketing, Caroline English, uses the NUNA with her child at home and on the road. "It's great on smooth surfaces and can do a full 360-degree turn on a dime," she said. "Also, the folding is incredible. On a recent trip to Cape Cod, we could fold it up small enough to bring into restaurants and carry it around easily," she added.

The NUNA also comes with a UPF 50+ shade canopy, leather-like accents and a storage basket. Once your baby has outgrown the PIPA urbn car seat, the TRVL stroller's toddler seat can be used for children up to 50 pounds.

Tips for flying with a travel stroller

Where and how to check your stroller when flying

Some airlines require you to check your stroller at the gate; others have rules about checking it at the ticket counter if it's greater than a certain weight.

It's more convenient to take your travel stroller to the gate, as your little one can ride (or nap) in it until you board. If you prefer to check it earlier, though, you can do so at the ticket counter and use a baby carrier to get your baby or toddler through the airport.

Before you get to the airport, make sure you check the regulations for the airline that you're flying so you're adequately prepared for what's to come. Some compact strollers are designed to fit in overhead bins, but whether they will be allowed on board depends on the stroller, the airline and ultimately the flight attendants.

Related: 21 airline stroller policies around the world

Preventing damage

When checking your stroller either at the gate or the ticket counter, it's best to take a few photos before traveling. That way, if the stroller arrives damaged, you may have an easier time proving a claim. Each airline has its own rules about what is eligible for a claim, and some, like Southwest, do not cover any type of damage, only loss.

To reduce the chances of damage, cover your stroller with a storage bag when you check it. One may come with your stroller when you purchase it, depending on which model you choose. You can also order a cover for your car seat and/or travel stroller on Amazon.

Unfortunately, you should also always have a backup plan at your destination in case your stroller is lost or damaged, as this can and does happen. It is also a good reason to consider some of the smaller and/or less expensive strollers for travel unless you have a true need for a more robust model.

Make note of a website for stroller rentals in your destination in case you need to resort to plan B. Also, don't rule out a quick trip to a local Walmart or Target, where available. Airline baggage claim offices also sometimes have basic strollers available for use in the case of delayed or damaged strollers.

Getting through security

You will typically be asked to fold up the stroller and place it on the belt when going through TSA checkpoints. If your stroller is not foldable or won't fit on the belt, it may not be the best for travel through the airport — but security can do a visual or physical inspection of it when they deem it necessary.

Bottom line

Picking the right travel stroller greatly depends on your situation. There's no perfect one for all scenarios and situations, so you need to prioritize what matters the most for your trips. Do you want it to fit in the overhead bin? Do you want it to be economical so it's not a huge hit if it is lost or damaged on your trip? Do you want it to be the most comfortable option for your baby for those trips when they will be spending long periods of time in the stroller?

The most compact stroller may not be the best stroller for rugged terrain, and a stroller designed for a newborn may not be the best choice once your child is older.

Once you've figured out what you need and want to prioritize, you can more easily decide which travel stroller on this list best fits your budget, travel preferences and family.

Additional reporting by Lori Zaino.

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The 4 Best Disney-Approved Double Strollers, Tested by Real Parents

Will mickey let you in with that truck.

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So you’re heading to the Happiest Place on Earth? If kids are in tow, you know it will be a challenge to keep it happy. You did all the early legwork—booking the perfect Airbnb near Disney and getting your 3-year-old appropriately acclimated by viewing some of the best Disney movies —so how do you make sure your actual time in the parks lives up to expectations? Well, I’ve been to Walt Disney World more times than I can count (as a kid and an adult), and I can tell you, it never disappoints. But it does get tiring. So while you might be on the fence about bringing a double stroller to Disney because of the hassle—packing it, parking it before rides, folding it up on the plane, dealing with crowds etc.—and regulations (we’ll get into that below), err on the side of a double stroller. You will regret not having one to hold your belongings, offer a place for one kid to nap while the other gets in line for Space Mountain and, most importantly, give yourself a break and a place to hold your Dole Whip . So, without further ado, here are the best Disney-approved double strollers to get you from the Magic Kingdom to Epcot and everywhere in between. 

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The Best Disney-Approved Double Strollers at a Glance

Best Disney-Approved Stroller Overall

Uppababy vista v2.

Best Disney-Approved Double Stroller Runner-Up

Baby jogger city select double stroller.

Best Lightweight Disney-Approved Double Stroller for Travel

Best Disney-Approved Double Stroller for Twins

Mockingbird single-to-double 0, what is disney's policy for double strollers.

The guidelines for double strollers at Walt Disney World Resort are pretty straightforward. They state that strollers cannot be more than 31” (79 cm) in width and 52” (132cm) in length. Unfortunately, stroller wagons are also not permitted. Other stroller rules include:

• Strollers are not allowed on escalators. Use of strollers is permitted on elevators and ramps, available at certain locations.
• A child must be removed from his or her stroller while riding on a parking lot tram.
• Do not leave personal belongings in an unattended stroller.
• Strollers may be moved by a Cast Member due to operational needs.

How I Chose the Best Disney-Approved Double Strollers

I chose these particular Disney-approved double strollers by polling parents with two or more kids who have put these models to use on a regular basis. I also used my own experience testing double strollers with my two kids. And of course I scoped the general consensus for various doubles from Disney blogs and discussion groups. 

TikTok's Beloved Skip Hop Baby Activity Center Is My Baby's #1 Place to Play—Here's What I Think About It

1. UPPAbaby Vista V2 +  RumbleSeat V2

What she likes.

• premium materials and construction
• multiple seating configurations and large under-seat basket
• smooth maneuverability and all-wheel suspension for a comfortable ride

What She Doesn't Like

• very expensive
• heavy and bulky
• not easy to travel with
• Dimensions:   25.7” W x 37” L x 39.5” H
• Type: convertible single-to-double tandem 
• Storage: large under-seat basket with a 30 lb capacity, additional pockets
• Age Range: newborn to 50 lbs

We talk about the UPPAbaby Vista V2 a lot here…and for good reason. It’s the all-in-one workhorse of a stroller system that grows with your family, accommodating up to three children. It’s versatile, durable, and designed for comfort, making it a fantastic choice for a Disney trip.  Alexia Dellner , PureWow Executive Editor, raves about her stroller that she’s pushed around for years now:  “It's sturdy, (I've pushed it over forest terrain and cobbled European streets), and it has tons of storage space ( diaper bag ? no problem). I knew that pushing two small kids would be tough so I definitely wanted something that could handle all that weight, and the UPPAbaby does, no problem. The seats are also spacious, and you can connect your infant car seat into the stroller, which is super convenient.” Dellner also appreciates that are multiple figurations, which, at a Disney park can come in handy when one kid needs to nap and the other one is in and out saying hi to Chip and Dale. 

Note: The Vista V2 can fit three kids with a RumbleSeat V2+ and PiggyBack , however, it’s not totally clear if the PiggyBack (aka the scooter-like attachment) is Disney-approved, so you may be safer having your older kid in a great pair of walking shoes. 

2. Baby Jogger City Select Double Stroller

• highly versatile with multiple seating configurations (16!)
• large storage basket
• adjustable handlebar for different parent heights
• converts from a single to a double stroller
• can be difficult to maneuver in tight spaces when used as a double

Baby Jogger

• Dimensions: 25.75” W x 43.5” H x 38.5” L 
• Type: convertible tandem double stroller
• Storage: large under-seat basket and multiple pockets
• Age Range: 6 months to 45 lbs per seat

Ideal for families with two young children, the Baby Jogger City Select Double offers 16 different seating configurations, which means it can change with your plans and needs during a hectic trip. It’s durable, easy to maneuver, and provides ample storage​, which can store all the Mickey Mouse ears you please. PureWow Editor in Chief Jillian Quint loved that her two growing kids could easily—and comfortably—fit through different stages in their lives: “When my daughter was a newborn,” Quint shares, “we inserted her car seat, then when she was old enough, we plopped in the second stroller seat and put her in that.” Like the UPPABaby VistaV2, there are so many configurations (seats can go forward or backward, face each other, etc.), making it amenable to an all-day, action-packed Disney trip with kids who may need different things (i.e. a nap or a snack). Also, Quint likes that the stroller was narrow so that she wasn’t bulldozing any oncoming traffic, a major plus for a Disney vacation if you’re nervous about hauling a double-wide stroller through angry (er, happy) crowds. All this said, the Baby Jogger City Select Double is the heaviest stroller on this list, so if air-travel ease is a must-have for your family, I wouldn’t recommend this one. If you’re driving to Disney, however, that’s another story—one with a happy ending. 

3.  Zoe TwinV2

What i like.

• one of lightest double strollers available
• features such as large canopies
• reclining seats
• ample storage

What I Don't Like

• smaller wheels 
• not as much storage space as other double strollers
• Dimensions :  30” W x 40.25” H x 33” L
• Type : lightweight double stroller
• Storage: large under-seat storage basket and parent pockets
• Age/Weight Limits : 3 months to 45 lbs per seat

As for a side-by-side double stroller, I love the Zoe TwinV2. Can it fold up small enough to fit in the overhead compartment on a flight? Nah. We’re in double territory now, but it’s still considered the lightest and most compact doubles on the market. So if you’re making a long trek to Disney with two in tow, this could be a winner.  I find it easy to fold, easy to maneuver, and easy to convince my toddler to hop on in. Even though it’s pretty lean for a double-wide, it’s roomy and comfy for both kids. They can interact or do their own thing. I also appreciate that the shade offers full coverage, which is not just important for the blazing sun or rain, but also key for the high-intensity stimulation of Disney. I also love the easy five-point harnesses that are easy on my fine motor skills, even with swollen hands after a long day in the sun. 

4. Mockingbird Single-to-Double 2.0 + 2nd Seat Kit

• sleek design with customizable fabric options.
• easy one-hand fold
• large storage basket.
• affordable alternative to high-end convertible strollers
• attaching car seat adapters and infant car seats not intuitive
• slightly heavier than some lightweight options.
• somewhat difficult to maneuver when fully loaded

Mockingbird

• Dimensions: 25” W x 40” H x 33” L
• Storage: extra-large storage basket with up to 25 lbs capacity
• Age Range: Newborn to 50 lbs per seat

Mom of twins, Alyce Tassoni, PureWow Director, Brand Partnerships, put the Mockingbird Single-to-Double to use almost immediately after her twins arrived: “I used this stroller three to five times a week with my twins from ages 0 to 1. In their first 2 months, I could fit both twins in the bassinet attachment to nap on short walks together in our neighborhood.” When they grew out of that, Tassoni added car seat adapters. And after that, she switched them to the regular seats. Maybe one of the best features of the Mockingbird, Tassoni shares, is that she can open and close the stroller easily with one hand—huge for parents who often have no hands. Another major point for the Mockingbird from a mom of twins is the storage: “The stroller also has a very large storage basket on the bottom—larger than the Zoe!” Double the child, double the sh*t you have to tote around with you. Thank you for the extra storage, Mockingbird. 

What to Consider When Choosing a Disney-Approved Double Stroller

When choosing a Disney-approved double stroller, there are several key factors to consider to ensure that your experience at the parks is as smooth and enjoyable as possible:

1. Size and Weight

• Disney Stroller Regulations: Disney parks have specific size restrictions for strollers. As of time of publication, strollers must not exceed 31 inches in width and 52 inches in length. Regulations are subject to change, so check with the Disney website to make sure your double stroller meets these dimensions before you go! 
• Portability: Consider the weight of the stroller, especially if you'll be navigating through crowded areas or using Disney transportation. 

2. Maneuverability

• Navigation Through Crowds: The ability to easily steer the stroller through large crowds and tight spaces is crucial. Look for strollers with good maneuverability, often indicated by features like swivel wheels, compact design, and easy-to-use handles.
• All-Terrain Capabilities: If you plan to use the stroller on various surfaces, including grassy areas or rougher terrain, consider a stroller with robust, all-terrain wheels.

3. Storage Space

• Under-Seat Basket: Given that you'll likely need to carry snacks, extra clothing, diapers, and other essentials, having a stroller with ample storage space is vital. Check for a large under-seat basket and additional storage pockets.

4. Comfort and Seating Options

• Recline Features: For younger children who may need naps, look for strollers with reclining seats. Some double strollers offer independent reclining seats, which can be helpful if one child wants to sleep while the other remains upright.
• Padding and Support: Choose a stroller with good padding and support to keep your children comfortable during long days at the park.

5. Ease of Folding and Transport

• One-Hand Fold: A stroller that can be folded with one hand is particularly convenient, especially when juggling multiple tasks or children.
• Compact Fold: Ensure the stroller folds down compactly for easy storage in your car or when boarding Disney transportation, such as buses or monorails.

6. Additional Features

• Sun Canopy: A large, extendable sun canopy with UV protection is essential for shielding your children from the sun.
• Accessories: Some strollers come with additional accessories like cup holders, snack trays, and rain covers, which can add to your convenience during the trip.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can i rent a stroller at disney.

Yes. At Walt Disney World theme parks and resort locations, single strollers (recommended for children 50 pounds or less) are $15 a day or $13 a day for a multi-day rental. Double strollers (recommended for children 100 pounds or less) are available for $31 a day or $27 a day for a multi-day rental. You can learn more about each park’s specific stroller rental policies and availabilities by visiting their website. 

Do I Need a Stroller at Disney?

You don’t *need* a stroller, but the consensus seems to be that while a stroller—especially a double—can be annoying to haul around, not having one is more annoying. If your party includes kids under 7 or 8, especially ones who aren’t used to being on their feet all day running around with tons of stimuli, I’d say bring a stroller. 

Is the Zoe Double Stroller Disney-Approved?

Yes, as of time of publication, the Zoe TwinV2 fits Disney’s stroller regulations which state that strollers cannot be more than 31” (79 cm) in width and 52” (132cm). The Zoe TwinV2 is 30" W x 33" L.

The 9 Best Pack ‘n Plays That Are Actually Easy to Fold

The Unique Burial of a Child of Early Scythian Time at the Cemetery of Saryg-Bulun (Tuva)

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Pages:  379-406

In 1988, the Tuvan Archaeological Expedition (led by M. E. Kilunovskaya and V. A. Semenov) discovered a unique burial of the early Iron Age at Saryg-Bulun in Central Tuva. There are two burial mounds of the Aldy-Bel culture dated by 7th century BC. Within the barrows, which adjoined one another, forming a figure-of-eight, there were discovered 7 burials, from which a representative collection of artifacts was recovered. Burial 5 was the most unique, it was found in a coffin made of a larch trunk, with a tightly closed lid. Due to the preservative properties of larch and lack of air access, the coffin contained a well-preserved mummy of a child with an accompanying set of grave goods. The interred individual retained the skin on his face and had a leather headdress painted with red pigment and a coat, sewn from jerboa fur. The coat was belted with a leather belt with bronze ornaments and buckles. Besides that, a leather quiver with arrows with the shafts decorated with painted ornaments, fully preserved battle pick and a bow were buried in the coffin. Unexpectedly, the full-genomic analysis, showed that the individual was female. This fact opens a new aspect in the study of the social history of the Scythian society and perhaps brings us back to the myth of the Amazons, discussed by Herodotus. Of course, this discovery is unique in its preservation for the Scythian culture of Tuva and requires careful study and conservation.

Keywords: Tuva, Early Iron Age, early Scythian period, Aldy-Bel culture, barrow, burial in the coffin, mummy, full genome sequencing, aDNA

Information about authors: Marina Kilunovskaya (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Institute for the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Dvortsovaya Emb., 18, Saint Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation E-mail: [email protected] Vladimir Semenov (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Institute for the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Dvortsovaya Emb., 18, Saint Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation E-mail: [email protected] Varvara Busova  (Moscow, Russian Federation).  (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Institute for the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences.  Dvortsovaya Emb., 18, Saint Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected] Kharis Mustafin  (Moscow, Russian Federation). Candidate of Technical Sciences. Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.  Institutsky Lane, 9, Dolgoprudny, 141701, Moscow Oblast, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected] Irina Alborova  (Moscow, Russian Federation). Candidate of Biological Sciences. Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.  Institutsky Lane, 9, Dolgoprudny, 141701, Moscow Oblast, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected] Alina Matzvai  (Moscow, Russian Federation). Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.  Institutsky Lane, 9, Dolgoprudny, 141701, Moscow Oblast, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected]

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